HOT SPRINGS -- The three-county solid waste district that includes Garland County and Hot Springs will not support its regional recycling center on Runyon Street after June 30, the district's board has decided.
The Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste Management Board Recycling Advisory Committee recommended at its Oct. 24 meeting to cease support effective Jan. 1, but the board has decided to fund the center through June. This gives the city time to develop alternative funding for the second half of 2019 and beyond.
According to information presented to the board, the district, which includes Clark and Hot Spring counties, is expected to receive $261,819 in 2019 from its annual state recycling grant. Twenty percent, or $52,263, will pay the West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District's administrative fee, leaving $200,556 after $9,000 is deducted for recycling awareness grants for schools.
The board had used the grant to fund the recycle center but agreed Wednesday to distribute it on a population basis in the future. Garland County will get 63 percent. Garland County's County Judge Rick Davis, chairman of the solid waste board, said the county's share will be divided with Hot Springs on a population basis.
The cost of hosting events for district residents to dispose of hazardous household waste and other items will be deducted before the distribution, leaving what the district projected was about $130,000 to allocate to the three counties next year.
Clark and Hot Spring counties have not used the regional center in recent years, making them reluctant to fund a facility that primarily benefits Garland County and Hot Springs.
State Desk on 12/07/2018