Venson Hawkins (left), new chairman of the Bedford County Solid Waste Authority, honored Bobby Vannatta for his ten years of service as chairman. Vannatta stepped down from the chairmanship last month citing health reasons, but continues to serve on the authority. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

Rising fuel prices are causing the Solid Waste Authority to shift funds within its budget to compensate for the extra costs.

Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman, who manages waste disposal for SWA, briefed the board about the situation, saying that no additional funds would be needed yet to pay for the diesel fuel that drives their trucks.

Fuel prices will also impact the cost of moving some 2,000 children and 100 teachers to the Bedford County Agriculture and Educatin Center for the annual Environmental Awareness Week, slated for April 28 to May 1.

Solid Waste Coordinator Gay Ervin said that she was informed that there would be a 13 cent increase per round trip for the event. However, she said that the extra expense wasn't that much considering that it cost $1,200 to move the children in 1999 as opposed to $1,300 this year.

Smotherman reported that the authority's new scrap metal contract with Middle Tennessee Metal Recovery is turning into a money maker. Total revenue for scrap metal for the first three months of 2008 came to $3,335.05.

He also said that SWA received more money in one month with the firm now contracted than it did in a year with the previous vendor.

Ervin also reported that public interest in plastic recycling is way up. Total revenue from recycling materials for the first three months of the year was $6,870 and the savings from not having to take the recycled materials to the landfill totals $6,379.

Ervin also asked the authority for more help with this weekend's Household Hazardous Waste event. She expressed frustration that she was not informed by the state that Rutherford County residents were asked to come to Bedford County to dispose of their dangerous garbage.

Ervin first learned of it after the Times-Gazette inquired about a press release from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation stating that Rutherford County would not be holding a Household Hazardous Waste event this spring. She said she was never informed of this fact.

In the past, Rutherford County had both a spring and a fall household hazardous waste pickup. But this year, Rutherford County residents are being encouraged by the state to drive to Bedford and Coffee County next week to dispose of their hazardous waste. Canceling the Rutherford County spring event was done to stretch the budget of TDEC to provide collections for hazardous waste statewide. Rutherford County will still have an HHW event in the fall.

County Mayor Eugene Ray said that the state wants part of the land where a convenience center sits on U.S. 41-A South at the intersection of Normandy Road for the future widening of that road. The offer was for $20,000.

Bobby Vannatta was honored Thursday night for his 10 years as SWA chairman. He stepped down last month citing health and other reasons.

Vannatta will continue to serve on the board as a member.