The Limestone County Commission and the Athens City Council have started the work to jointly finalize the new solid waste management plan that they are required to send to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management once per decade.

“Alabama Code 22-27-47 requires every 10 years that we do a plan that we submit to ADEM,” Limestone County Attorney Andrew Dill said. “It is generally just the plan for the county, and the city, for what we are going to do with our solid waste.”

The solid waste management plan — which is woven into a nearly 60-page document — can be found online on the Limestone County website, limestonecounty-al.gov, or picked up in person at the commission’s office.

The commission held a public hearing on the new solid waste management plan during their work session on Monday, Aug. 5. The public hearing was required by Alabama State Law in order for the review and adoption process of the plan to continue.

“The major change this year, for the county, is since we’ve started our own solid waste collection unit,” Dill said about the county starting its own weekly automated collection service in April 2023. “That is included in there and that will be submitted to ADEM, but at this time it is appropriate for any members of the community to comment on this.”

There were no public comments during the work session specifically related to the plan, outside of where the plans can be located by the public. The city council is expected to hold its own public hearing on the matter in their next meeting on Monday, Aug. 12.

Once the plan is adopted, it will be applicable to all of Limestone County, including all unincorporated areas and any municipalities that did not opt out of the plan. These include the towns of Ardmore, Lester, Elkmont and Mooresville.

Commission Chairman Collin Daly also serves as the chairman of the Solid Waste Board for Limestone County. He explained why the plan is being worked on by both the county and the city of Athens.

“We’re both the solid waste management authority, us and the city, so we are 50/50 in this deal,” Daly said on Monday. “Us and the city will run commingle on this every ten years, and this is my first time ever doing this.”

Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said the plan is “very good” and a reflection of the excellent collaboration between the city and the county to get the plan done and submitted.

“We have the city and county together in a jointly appointed board, which has taken the right steps to enhance the sustainability of our waste collection methods,” Marks told The News Courier. “After they make a recommendation, then it goes to the different municipalities to be confirmed to ensure a smooth transition.”

District 1 Commissioner Daryl Sammet said that he hopes the plans will be submitted and finalized by October, when the old plan is set to expire.

“We’ll be looking at all the costs involved, of course nothing ever gets cheaper, especially with the new transfer station facility,” Sammett said. “They are contracted with Lawrence County to take our garbage there. We pay the tipping fee there, but we are just trying to make sure we don’t cost our residents any and continue to provide the services they are used to.”