South Arkansas is facing an ever-mounting problem with wood waste. Magnolia Mayor Parnell Vann talked about the problem on Wednesday during a meeting of the Magnolia Economic Development Corporation.
The five counties in the Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District (Columbia, Union, Ouachita, Calhoun and Dallas) have found that there’s no longer a market for wood chips, which are ground from storm debris and other sources at a facility in Union County. Traditionally, the wood chips have gone to companies that use them to fire boilers that make steam.
“We can’t get rid of the grinds any more. Natural gas is so cheap (industries) don’t need wood chips,” Vann said.
The regional solid waste district is applying for a two-year, $87,500 matching grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to study what might be done with the region’s wood chip supply. The Columbia County Landfill has an incinerator capable of burning the chips, but Vann said the district would prefer to have a more centrally located incinerator.
It’s also possible that the wood waste could be used in power generation somewhere within the solid waste district, creating an industry that would provide jobs. Vann suggested that the MEDC contribute $1,000 toward the district’s share of the grant as a way to show good faith with other cities and counties. He also wanted the MEDC to write a letter endorsing the grant application.
From the Magnolia Reporter: https://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/local_business/article_ed50dfa4-397b-11e6-bd28-9f7fff6ee49f.html