[GRRN] RURAL DUMPING -Reply

Bill Carter (WCARTER@tnrcc.state.tx.us)
Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:41:50 -0500


The Tennessee Valley Authority undertook a major program several
years ago to establish "convenience centers" for trash/recycling
collection in rural areas within its jurisdiction to provide an alternative to
rampant illegal dumping.

Texas undertook a major "tire recycling" program in the early 1990's that
surveyed, documented, and ultimately cleaned up hundreds of the larger
tire dumps scattered across the state, involving thousands of tons of
tires. The program has since been declared a success (although most of
the tires collected through the program were still sitting in large stockpiles
of tire shreds) and the tire fee that supported it has been retired.

In rural areas of Texas, the "burn barrel" (ventilated steel drum) is
commonly used to reduce household trash to ashes before hauling it to a
landfill or other disposal site. Residences in unincorporated areas can
still maintain private burial grounds for on-site trash.

State-level solid waste authorities generally have some kind of illegal
dumping program, and some of the better-funded ones likely have recent
documentation of the extent of the problem and references to county and
regional entities with successful enforcement programs.