Counties Get Grants For Solid Waste

They include Haywood, Henderson, Carroll and Decatur counties.

"It makes my day," said Frank Burns, a Carroll County commissioner.

Burns said the county is worried about proposed cutbacks in state funding, and that the grant money will help purchase much-needed equipment.

The Tennessee Solid Waste Management assistance grants will be used to help buy recycling equipment to help reach the state's waste reduction goals. More than $800,000 in grants were awarded to 36 cities, counties and other organizations.

Each city, county or agency that receives money must match between 10 and 50 percent of each grant before they can receive the award.

Dennis Ray McDaniel, the county executive for Henderson County, said his county won't have any trouble doing that.

McDaniel is pleased about getting the grant money.

"We've got a pretty good solid waste program for a small county," he said. "We try to do all the recycling we can."

Money for the state's solid waste management fund comes from a surcharge on each ton of solid waste disposed in landfills and from a $1 fee on each new tire sold in the state.

Tennessee counties in The Jackson Sun's coverage area where recycling programs received grants, what they received and how it will be used: Haywood County: $6,300, roll off containers; Henderson County: $10,400, vertical baler/utility trailer; Carroll County: $20,480, truck and grapple bucket; and Decatur County: $23,489.10, horizontal baler. – jacksonsun.com