County Commissioners on the Governmental Operations Committee discussed means by which the county could increase the life of its landfills, at their meeting Monday.
Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters told the committee that storing residuals from the compost facility in a Class IV landfill, instead of a Class I will save enough space at the facility to “substantially extend the life of a landfill” from seven or eight years to about 20 years. The residuals consist of items that can’t be composted, like plastics.
“Locating a new landfill is not something that anyone in government ever wants to do,” remarked Waters, adding that it’s even harder than locating a jail.
However, SSW had to ask the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for a permit change to allow these sorts of materials to be stored here. Class IV landfills are rated to hold construction and demolition wastes, according to TDEC regulations.
There is concern that these materials will be contaminated with sewage from the compost facility.
In other business, committee members discussed a resolution which establishes the requirements and standards for review of applications for new landfills.
By an arrangement known as the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, solid waste in Sevier County, and also in the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, is handled by Sevier Solid Waste, Inc.
Applicants for new landfills will be made to pay a $1,000 application fee, which would go towards covering the cost of reviewing the application, and a public hearing.
Later that evening, at the full county commission meeting, commissioners voted in favor of the resolution.
The Governmental Operations Committee meets before commission meetings, on the third Monday of each month, at 5:30 p.m. in the county mayor’s office.

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