The Greene County Regional Solid Waste Planning Board was told Tuesday that 2008 was the best year "ever" in terms of garbage diverted from the landfill by recycling or other means.

Chris Craig of the First Tennessee Development District made that observation in presenting the annual report on the county's 10-year solid waste plan.

Solid waste is the term used by state government for residential, institutional and industrial garbage.

The board's agenda included discussion of a possible increase in tipping fees. That decision was postponed, pending completion of a cost analysis now under way by the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS).

Chairman Sarah Webster said she would call another meeting when the MTAS report is ready.

The update report, a large document is largely "an exercise in data collection," must be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation by Tuesday, Craig said.

Craig said counties in Tennessee are required by law to "divert" at least 25 percent of solid waste by recycling, composting or other methods.

Greene County has met that 25 percent waste reduction goal each year since the early 1990s when it became law, he said, but this year, the amount diverted was 53.7 percent of the total tonnage of waste generated.

He noted that the report shows that, of 104,228 tons generated, Greene County only "disposed" of 48,294 tons in landfills, either the BFI Carters Valley landfill in Hawkins County, or the Iris Glen landfill in Johnson City.

Most of the diversion came from 22,599 tons that were recycled by industries, according to the report.

One chart in the report showed that total garbage generated in this county peaked in 2006 at 168,897 tons, dropped to 125,623 tons in 2007, then dropped further to 104,228 tons in 2008

Craig said he was not aware when he was preparing the report that some Greene County solid waste now goes to the TIDI Waste landfill at exit 12 on Interstate 81 in Hamblen County, so the final figures may change slightly when those data are included.

Craig said he was "a little surprised" to see that the county's recycling tonnage -- except for metals -- was consistent with last year's figures.

County Solid Waste Director Hubert Metcalf said metal prices went so high early last year that "everybody was taking (metal) to the foundry," instead of having it recycled.

Then, "the bottom dropped out" of metal prices, he said.

The update asked counties to send recycling surveys to local industries that might have materials to recycle. He said 60 surveys were sent, and 12 to 15 were completed and returned.

Greeneville Environmentalist Debbie Smith said no vote by the board was needed, but the update will have to be signed by Chairman Webster, and by Greeneville Mayor Laraine King and Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles.

Webster said she put tipping fees on the agenda because both the city and the county governments are starting to prepare budgets for the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins in July. In order to prepare budgets, "We need to know what tipping fees will be," she said.

Webster noted that the current five-year contract with BFI will be up on Dec. 31 of this year. Either party can terminate the contract by giving 60 days' notice.

Both Webster and Metcalf agreed that 60 days is not much notice. Webster pointed out that, at present, the city and county pay tipping fees that are $3 per ton less than the fees paid by businesses. She said the board may want to reconsider "not favoring the town and the city" in that way.

Dennis "Zip" Wright, manager of the city/county landfill and transfer station, pointed out that, in the current contract, tipping fees were lowered $10 per ton, to $39.70 per ton. He noted that Greeneville, Greene County, Tusculum and the Tennessee Department of Transportation pay $36.34 per ton now, and have paid at the discounted rate for four and a half years.

Webster said MTAS is currently in the process of studying landfill operations and preparing "transportation options." Wright said he did not know how long the MTAS study might take. Wright also reminded the board that costs for nearly everything have increased, while tipping fees have stayed the same.

Wright also pointed out that tipping fees have to cover the engineering cost of monitoring two closed landfills. Those costs run between $80,000 and $100,000 annually, he said.

Webster said that when the "enterprise accounting system" was implemented as part of the 10-year plan, the aim was for the landfill and Solid Waste Department to "be a business unto itself," and be self-supporting, but events such as high fuel prices have meant that "we get more behind each year."
Craig said other counties are in similar straits.

Metcalf said, "We really need to look at some way to cut costs as much as we can." He noted that the TIDI Waste landfill at exit 12 is "half the distance" to the BFI landfill.
Webster said she expects "several recommendations" from the MTAS about ways to cut costs, but she said the solid waste budgets are "bare bones" now.

Craig said, "I don't see (Greene County) getting a better rate than what you have at Carters Valley" by switching to the BFI landfill. "You may cut transportation costs, but as far as the tipping fee, no."
Webster said the current fees are renewable through 2014. Wright said that BFI officials he has talked to "indicated they would like to continue the contract."

Webster and Wright also pointed out that, at one time, the city and county fovernments were each contributing between $600,000 and $700,000 per year to the joint solid waste budget, but five years ago, the amount was reduced to $100,000 from each entity. Since then, the reserves have been dropping.

Wright said $536,000 from reserves was budgeted to operate the landfill and transfer station this year, though somewhat less will actually be spent.

County Commissioner John D. Carter, a county representative on the solid waste board, said "I'm just one vote out of 21" commissioners, but said he believes it is "unlikely" that the commission would vote to give more money to the solid waste operating reserves.

Carter said Metcalf has needed a new garbage truck for two years, and most likely will not get one in the new budget, considering how tight that budget is likely to be.

Wright said that his department's budget was $3.1 million five years ago, but the "fourth revision of the second version" of his proposed budget for next year is now just over $2.1 million.

Wight said that, although "revenues are down, expenses are down too."