Cumberland County recycling totals increase

May 2—Cumberland County's solid waste regional planning board approved a 10-year plan to submit to the state to enhance recycling within the county.

"Cumberland County would like to enhance our current centers with additional recycling efforts, enable our centers to upgrade to heavy duty pre-crusher compactors and heavy duty stationary compactors. Centers need to be expanded to handle the population growth in Cumberland County," the plan states.

Conrad Welch, Cumberland County solid waste director, said, "We've seen lots of improvements over the past few years, but with newer equipment we will definitely see more."

Welch explained that heavy duty pre-crushers can crush larger items such as furniture into much smaller pieces, saving not only space, but time for workers and the amount of trips solid waste drivers will have to make to the convenience centers and to the transfer station.

In his annual report, Welch shared that recycling totals have gone from 2,781 tons in 2013 to 4,542 tons in 2023. The county also processes and recycles cooking oil, antifreeze, clothing and electronics now.

"We're recycling as much as we can to keep as much as we can out of the transfer station and landfill," Welch said.

The total weight of household garbage thrown out in Cumberland County convenience centers in 2023 was 22,571 tons, Welch reported.

The county encourages the public to recycle plastic bottles, cans and other items as much as possible.

Welch said the county has applied for a grant for new equipment through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and has requested the county purchase new containers for convenience centers and equipment at the recycling center that will help increase recycling totals.

The county just approved the purchase of an eddy magnet that will help separate metals on the single stream recycling line.

Welch said the recycling center needs expansion in the dumping pad area in order to process more items. He said more equipment to handle tires is also needed as the county has gone from taking in 594 tons in 2018 to 1,351 tons in 2023.

Other recycling total increases included textiles (clothing) from 0 in 2013 up to 200 tons in 2023; glass from 0 in 2013 to 333 tons in 2023; cardboard from 1,203 tons in 2013 to 1,384 tons in 2023; steel from 378 tons in 2013 to 740 tons in 2023; and batteries from 3.1 tons in 2013 to 6 tons in 2023.

Members of the solid waste regional planning board include Welch, Barry Fields, Everett Bolin, Beth Sherrill, Don Dowdey, David Hassler and Mike Stubbs.

Gary Nelson may be reached at gnelson@crossville-chronicle.com