Southwest Arkansas Solid Waste Board Holds Quarterly Meeting

The Board of Directors of the Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District met Tuesday morning in the council chamber at Nashville City Hall for its quarterly meeting.

During reports, Keith Couch announced the district’s tire program recorded the most successful year in its history. According to Couch, the program repurposed or reused 5,717 tons of tires over the past year.

Landfill Director Mitch Noble reported that the company responsible for recycling the landfill’s electronic waste has announced it will begin charging $600 per ton to recycle televisions and older computer monitors. Noble said he plans to remove those items from the electronic waste stream and dispose of them in the landfill, noting there are currently no regulations prohibiting the burial of televisions and monitors.

Noble also reported the landfill recently purchased a new truck at a cost of $163,490.98. Of that amount, $100,000 was covered through a recycling grant from the Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District, with the remaining funds coming from the district’s 2025 budget.

Board members approved a $1,000 Christmas bonus for each employee, as well as the 2026 budget. The budget includes a 5 percent pay raise for all employees and increases to both the maintenance and employee insurance line items.

In his final report, Noble said landfill tonnage has increased by approximately 6,000 tons per quarter and that the landfill remains in good financial condition. As a result, he said he is not recommending a fee increase for 2026.