County receives $22K solid waste grant

Neshoba County was awarded more than $20,000 in state grant monies for a new bulky waste collection receptacle.

County Administrator Jeff Mayo said that they have been awarded $22,472 from MDEQ that will be used to acquire a new 75 yard, 30-ton debris dump trailer for placement at the new Waste Convenience Center located behind the Neshoba County Unit Facility Building. He said that it will expand the county’s capability to handle waste that is difficult for the average citizen to dispose of safely.

“In addition to household waste, metal and white goods recycling and waste tires that can be disposed of at the Waste Convenience Center this dump trailer will provide additional capability and capacity for disposal of other debris,” Mayo said.

Chris Wells, MDEQ Interim Executive Director, said that cities and counties may apply for Solid Waste Assistance Grants through the Department of Environmental Quality to support an array of local projects.

“The Solid Waste Assistance Grants support a variety of useful solid waste management activities for cities and counties, and this grant will assist Neshoba County’s efforts in improving their management of solid waste,” Wells said.

The trailer is anticipated to be delivered later this year.

The Waste Convenience Center was announced sometime last December and opened at the beginning of this year. Mayo said in December that much of the work done to establish and operate the site comes from grant money like this one.

Wells said that these grants are used by local communities for programs to prevent and clean up unauthorized dumps as well as to aid in hiring local solid waste enforcement officers.