Beginning Thursday, June 1, the Hot Springs Compost Facility will implement several operational changes. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The facility will close to the public on Fridays.
The facility will give away surplus wood mulch and logs during the month of June. Loading will be provided free of charge.
Those wishing to obtain compost have two options. Self-loading is free, regardless of the amount. Fees for assisted loading (using compost facility equipment and personnel) will be $10 per cubic yard for the first four yards and $15 per cubic yard thereafter. Assisted loading is available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only. The fees are for loading, rather than the compost material itself.
The facility receives a lot of yard and logwood waste (green waste) from residents of the city, and even more from commercial and non-resident users. The city does not charge city residents and wastewater customers of Hot Springs Municipal Utilities for bringing green waste to the facility. Beginning June 1, the tipping fee for commercial operations and non-Municipal Utilities wastewater customers will increase based on the size of the load. Fees will range from $10 for up to four cubic yards (small pickup truck or 12-yard trailer) to $50 for a 50 cubic yard truck or trailer. Proof of residence will require a valid Arkansas driver’s license or State ID with a name and address matching a copy of a recent Municipal Utilities wastewater billing statement.
Hot Springs residents and wastewater customers pay for the compost operations through their monthly billing. Annual facility operations cost between $900,000 and $1,000,000. Revenues from assisted loading and the tipping fees amount to less than 10% of the operating costs.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regulates compost facilities. The City of Hot Springs Compost Facility utilizes an operating plan approved by ADEQ. The plan places limits on the amount of stockpiled yard and logwood waste on the premises. In order to stay in compliance, there will be times when the facility may not accept green waste when at its permitted capacity and when muddy conditions are present. Frequent users can sign up for email notifications for times when the facility cannot accept materials.
The operating plan also limits the types of acceptable materials for composting. Treated lumber, building materials, tree roots balls and stumps, dirt, metal, glass and any other trash are prohibited. Incoming loads containing such materials will be rejected.