‘Talking trash’ with the county executive

Denny Wayne Robinson, White County executive

“We have a valuable commodity, but how long will the value last?” White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said. 

Robinson recently talked about the status of the landfill and how the county is working to improve the quality of service.

Robinson said most counties don’t have a landfill capable of receiving and storing household waste.

“White County has not always correctly operated the landfill, but it is currently an asset for the county,”  Robinson said.

Solid waste has sometimes been a headache, but the situation is improving. From purchased vehicles needing constant repair to a shortage of available drivers, the county executive has had his hands full. Sometimes his hands were full of the steering wheel while driving county trucks to keep the garbage moving to the landfill.

“We had a need, and I can drive a truck,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the driver situation has turned around, and the county is in good shape. The landfill is a work in progress, but there has been progress. Robinson said the problems were not intentional or from a disregard for the environment. He explained the county never had anyone with the proper knowledge and experience to run the landfill the way it should have been run. Robinson said the county has learned some of these lessons the hard way. The county executive said he is trying to be proactive and position the county to get the most out of the landfill.

The county had recently solicited for outside parties to purchase the landfill. It was during this process that revealed many things about the landfill. The county is now working to address several issues and is working with an environmental specialist to ensure that everything will be in order when the county again solicits offers to purchase the landfill.

 Robinson said his ultimate goal is to sell the landfill for the right price at the right time. He wants to ensure the county has quality garbage service. The environment around the landfill is protected, and the county gets the most value from its assets. Whether the landfill is sold or remains under county control, Robinson said he is determined to address every issue.