Solid Waste

The Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management Board consists of elected officials of 6 counties (Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Miller, Ouachita, and Union). Together with the Upper-Southwest Solid Waste District in Nashville, Arkansas, we assist with disposal and recycling of waste tires. The District helps cities and counties negotiate waste disposal contracts and provides grant funds for recycling projects in the 6- county area.

Types of Recycling Grants Include:

• Electronic waste recycling

• Recycling facility improvements

• Trucks and Trailers

• Recycling equipment
  (balers, forklifts etc.)

• Recycling education

Brownfields

The Brownfield Program is an ongoing opportunity that  has proven to be successful. The program has been of great benefit for larger cities with abandoned properties in need of inspections for contaminates and growth of new business. There are still many opportunities with the Brownfield program looking forward for the next five years. ADEQ’s Brownfield program has been a great tool for us in helping provide inspections and grants for asbestos removal. We continue to apply for EPA grants as they become available and have been able to continue to provide services through the ADEQ Brownfield program. Our plan is to continue service for our district by finding and cleaning up contaminated properties.

Mitigation Planning

The planning district assists the counties with preparing their hazard mitigation plans as well as applying for any available disaster funding through the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and or FEMA. These plans are a requirement of the counties to qualify for pre-disaster mitigation funds. These plans include historical analysis of disasters, a present view of potential hazards, and strategic actions to address these dangers. The benefits of these plans are the ability to incorporate them into other existing plans within the county and to apply for funding to address individual needs such as flooding, safe rooms, etc.