If you have items that are in question, please call the district office at:

(479) 452-4101

Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

Outdoor Burning of Trash

Posted by kirkhamadmin

 

Arkansas State Air Pollution Control Regulations Section 18.6 (b) prohibits the open burning of waste materials. Specifically, it states that: “No person shall cause or permit the open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste, or other waste material, or shall conduct a salvage operation by open burning.”

Household trash, tires, construction and demolition waste (including lumber and/or wood), etc. are considered waste materials and cannot be burned according to State Law.

Many residents of Sebastian County continue to burn prohibited items – including household trash! This is a habit passed down from generation to generation.The composition of household trash today has drastically changed from that of our grandparents’ time. The Sebastian County Solid Waste District works to educate residents about the ban on open burning in order to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with open burning. If you know of someone who is burning household trash or other prohibited items, please let us know. You can call our office at (479) 452-4101. We will contact the person responsible and provide them with information on the laws and risks.

Potential Health Risks

Smoke from the outdoor burning of common household and farm materials pollutes the air and can cause serious health problems for the residents of Sebastian County.The inhalation of smoke from burning brush, grass, leaves and trash can cause asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer. Most at risk due to poor air quality are children, the elderly and those with breathing problems. Since smoke particles fall into the ground, burning also pollutes our water and soil.

Backyard fires can and will destroy property. The number one way people are responsible for causing wildfires is when outdoor burning grows out-of-control. You may be held responsible for the cost of stopping an out-of-control fire and the damage it causes.

When you consider the health and financial risks associated with outdoor burning, the alternatives quickly become a more favorable option. Some alternatives may include curbside pickup, Countywide, City-wide clean-up days or taking your waste to a landfill. Help to keep our air, land and water clean and healthy.

Lavaca Recycles!

Posted by Randy Hall
The ABC Recycling Center, located at 904 N Davis in Lavaca, is open Thursday thru Saturday 8-3. We recycle food grade glass, steel cans, aluminum cans, electronics, newsprint, cardboard, paper, plastics and much more! For a $10.00 fee you can also dispose of stuff you don’t want any more like furniture, scrap metal, appliances and junk. NO TIRES, ROOFING MATERIALS, BURN BARRELS OR THE CONTENTS OF BURN BARRELS, YARD WASTE OR USED OIL FILTERS. Come see Jeff this weekend, he would love to see you! Keep Lavaca Beautiful!

Community Pride

Posted by kirkhamadmin

We’re all connected to and play a vital part in our communities.  How we treat it, has a direct effect on how we feel about where we live, work and play. We should ask ourselves: “What can I do to help make my community be a healthier place to live?”; “What can I do to make our community a place I can really be proud of?”; “How can I make a difference now?”.

Here are just a few suggestions for the betterment of our communities:

• Get involved by becoming a volunteer.
• Carry a trash bag on walks and pick up the litter you find.
• Clean up a park.
• Create a community garden.
• Adopt a street or a neighborhood.
• Sponsor a collection event for recyclable materials.
• Support and encourage recycling in your community.
• Practice recycling in your home.

 

KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL

1. Get the Facts
Research the littering problem in your community and gather information from the Litter Index and the Litter/Solid Waste Survey. Interview field professionals and leadership. Assemble all pertinent data in writing.

2. Involve the People
Identify the people who have the most influence over this particular issue. Let them know what you would like to do. Find how it can match their own interests, and capitalize on their interest in developing the program. Let them involve people they know or with whom they work. The volunteer network will spread. Delegation is the key.

3. Plan Systematically
Once the leadership and other key individuals are in agreement, develop a plan of action. Utilizing effective management techniques, the group commits to this plan of action with the aid of Keep America Beautiful programs and resource guides.

4. Focus on Results
Your goal will be to achieve measurable results in litter reduction. All activities and projects should be planned programs designed to target and change negative attitudes and practices.

5. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Give those who worked on the project appropriate recognition. This can take many forms, but a sincere “thank you” is a first step. People must feel positive about their efforts with you if they are to sustain their interest.

Fall County Wide Cleanup Campaign 2025

Posted by Randy Hall
 

 Fall County Wide Cleanup Campaign

Information Contact:
Steve Hotz, County Judge 783-6139
Randy Hall, Solid Waste
District Director 452-4104

The County Wide cleanup will begin on September 13th and end on October 11th. Dumpsters are provided for the five County cleanup sites in the County contract with CARDS. The County cleanup site dumpsters are managed by Road Department employees, with an E-waste trailer provided by the Sebastian County Solid Waste district.

Proof of Sebastian County residency is required by Arkansas Driver’s License for disposal of trash at the cleanup site.

County Government and City Government cooperating in cleanup campaigns has a significantly impacted illegal dumping activities and overall cleanliness of our Sebastian County Communities. Support of the Sebastian County Solid Waste District has also improved our cleanup campaigns.

It is our understanding that the County Solid Waste Collection Company, CARDS, also provides “cleanup campaign” support for four cities, Lavaca, Barling, Greenwood and Hackett in their individual city agreements. We understand CARDS provides “collection services” for Bonanza, Huntington, Midland, Hartford and Central City with no direct contracted support for cleanups. The City of Mansfield operates their own collection service and will need to obtain services for a city cleanup. Jason Fitzgerald is the CARDS representative at 501-607-4898. Dumpsters for each city cleanup, if provided by CARDS are $275.00 plus $50.00 per ton for disposal. Cleanup campaigns are an opportunity to encourage community participation in cleanup activities.

Dumpster schedules and locations are as follows:      

Date Time Place

County Sites

There will be an E-Waste trailer at each of the County sites. 
Saturday, September 13 7AM – Noon Midland/ County Park/Boyer Park Highway 45
Saturday, September 20 7AM – Noon Greenwood Road Yard
Saturday, September 27 7AM – Noon Jenny Lind
Saturday, October 4 7AM – Noon Milltown/Washburn Fire Station
Saturday, October 11 7AM – Noon Feather Hill Park Northeast corner

Cleanup Dumpsters

Dumpsters will be placed by 7:00 A.M. on Saturday and are available until 2:00 p.m. on the same day. Dumpsters will be picked up noon. in order to be hauled to the Landfill and dumped by closing time.  

City Sites
Saturday September 15-19th 8AM – 6PM Greenwood Recycling Center
Saturday October 18th and 25th 7AM – 3PM Fort Smith
  7AM – 2PM Mansfield Public Works
     
October 8-11 10AM – 6PM Lavaca Recycle Center
  10AM – 6PM Barling Public Works Department
     

 

Computers, TVs, or VCR’s “will be accepted” with a trailer designated for these items at the Greenwood City Street Department on Bell Road.

Any resident of Sebastian County who does not have a cleanup site in their city as well as residence in the unincorporated area, may utilize ANY of the County Cleanup sites.

Tire Disposal Policy

NOTE: Tires “will NOT be accepted” as a part of the Fall cleanup campaign.

County residents may dispose of up to four passenger tires, without rims, at no charge by taking the tires to Westark Tire at 601 Oak Grove Road in Van Buren, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

NOTE:  Dumpsters will be staffed by County Employees at all times to assure that only acceptable wastes are disposed of.  The following items are NOT acceptable in the dumpsters due to Landfill regulations:

  • Yard waste, grass, leaves and brush
  • Used oil
  • Tires
  • Batteries
  • Hazardous or toxic wastes
  • TV’s Computers – Electronic Equipment
  • Cleaning chemicals
  • Herbicides or pesticides
  • Paints or liquids of any kind
  • Fluorescent Bulbs
  • Freon containing appliances (appliances using Freon MUST have the compressor removed before it can be accepted)

NOTE: Barrels used to burn trash are illegal in the State of Arkansas and “will NOT be accepted” as part of this cleanup campaign

NOTE:   White goods (appliances, refrigerators, etc.) may be placed in a designated area with the County Road Department disposing of these items on the day of the cleanup date in your area.  Refrigerators, Freezers, Air Conditioners, MUST HAVE COMPRESSORS REMOVED.

This cleanup is for Residents only and NOT for Commercial Disposal Proof of Sebastian County residency by (driver’s license) will be required prior to disposal

 

Keep Fort Smith Beautiful

Posted by Randy Hall

Keep Fort Smith Beautiful

Keep Fort Smith Beautiful is dedicated to keeping our city clean, vibrant, and beautiful! We are a volunteer-driven group of citizens dedicated to enhancing the image and appearance of Fort Smith, Arkansas! Our goal is to create and maintain a successful and aesthetically pleasing community. Go to the link below to see more of what KFSB does in Fort Smith.

 

http://www.keepfsbeautiful.org/

Greenwood Recycle Center

Posted by Randy Hall

 

Glass, Paper & Plastic Recycling

The City of Greenwood Street Department is committed to recycling and we are working towards implementing efficient and convenient methods for citizens to recycle.

We operate a Drop-Off Recycling Center adjacent to the Street Department Main Office that accepts glass, paper and plastic products.

Our hours of operation are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8AM – 4PM
Saturday 8AM – Noon

Recycle Center Re-opening Rules and Observing Covid-19 Guidelines

Items we accept:

Glass Recycling

Food & Beverage Glass Only ~ Food Grade Glass Only

Items we accept:

  • Jars
  • Food & Beverage Bottles
  • Wine Bottles
  • Beer Bottles
  • Liquor Bottles

Items we DO NOT accept:

  • Dishes
  • Windows
  • Mirrors
  • Pottery
  • Clay Pots
  • Ovenware
  • Crystal
  • Light Bulbs
  • Fluorescent Bulbs
  • Ceramic Tile

Paper Recycling

Items we accept:

Items we also accept

Items we do not accept

Containers of the following items will no longer be accepted:

Metal Recycling

A trial metal collection bin has been added at the Recycle Center

The following WILL NOT be accepted in the metal bin:

Scrap metal will be accepted.

Items we do not accept

Recycle Containers

Posted by Randy Hall

If you are a resident that lives in the City of Fort Smith, and would like to recycle, please call 479-784-2350 to request a recycling container.

If you live in the City of Barling, please call 479-451-1550 to request a container.

If you live in the City of Lavaca, please call 479-674-5616 to request a container.

Reusing is Rewarding

Posted by

Benjamin Franklin said, “Waste not, want not.”
Instead of throwing away your items and filling up the landfill, find ways to reuse items.

Waste Hauler Permit Requirements

Posted by Randy Hall

Attention Waste Haulers : The Company President or equivalent signed and agreed to the requirements of the 2017 Waste Haulers application. Two of the requirements are :

#7

All solid waste collected within Sebastian County must be transported to a State permitted facility: and in accordance with any other local government agreements.

#8

The District may require any hauler to routinely provide copies of their Solid Waste Quarterly Report Form (or acceptable equivalent form) submitted to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (or equivalent agency).

Please be sure you adhere to this and all other requirements of the 2017 Solid Waste Hauler Application. There can be monetary penalties assessed for non compliance.

 

The Three R’s – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Posted by kirkhamadmin

http://youtu.be/wtoeZ9Nkeqk