Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste Management District

The board reviewed financial reports and approved the payment of outstanding bills. A staff update on the School Recycling Grant led to a board decision to withhold further funding to Lakeside Schools pending further programmatic verification. The meeting also included a discussion on ordinances regarding the use of city and county-owned roll-off dumpsters by solid waste haulers. Updates were provided on recent Household Hazardous Waste events. New business included the scheduling of 2026 events, authorization for counsel to begin contract renewal discussions for e-waste disposal, approval for the chairman to sign an engagement letter for the 2025 audit, and a discussion regarding the upcoming expiration of the Class I waste collection and disposal contract.

The meeting included discussion and updates on several key areas. Financial reports were reviewed, and modifications to the 2025 budget were approved to reflect actual expenditures for school recycling grants and household hazardous waste events. Adjustments to internal controls for payment processing were presented and approved. The 2024 financial audit was presented with a clean result and subsequently approved. Progress on a smaller footprint waste to energy plant for waste tires was shared. The Board approved November 8, 2025, as the date for the Fall Household Hazardous Waste event and approved the agreement with Clean Earth for related services. The legislative audit findings were also approved, and the Certificate of Need application for Reworld Solutions, LLC, for a solid waste recovery facility was approved.

The board discussed financial reporting, including the approval of the 2026 financial budget and a transition to new fund accounting software. Key agenda items included updates on tire funding, approval of event dates proposed by the Recycling Advisory Committee, and the renewal of an e-waste collection and disposal agreement. Additionally, the board approved an agreement for a cost analysis of solid waste transportation and examined the implications of a recent Arkansas Supreme Court decision regarding service territories for waste haulers. The meeting also concluded with the annual election of board officers.

The Board reviewed the Clean Earth HHW Agreement and directed revisions including extending the termination notice, removing late payment fee provisions, and striking language allowing unilateral price adjustments. The Board authorized Counsel Turner to make the revisions, subject to Board approval, and for the Chairman to execute the agreement if Clean Earth accepts the changes.

The meeting included updates on financial matters, the Used Tire Program, and ADEQ. Concerns were raised regarding the potential privatization of the Used Tire Program and its financial impacts. The significance of the Environmental Officer program was discussed, along with the status of illegal dump sites and waste tonnage. The Recycling Advisory Committee's recommendation to accept the ESCO contract was approved, and a motion was passed to release the RFP for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). The date for the Spring Household Hazardous Waste event was set for May 17, 2025. The board also addressed the Saline County Landfill's hours of operation during a weather event and maintained the current officer positions.