Residents with appliances, white goods and other scrap metalaround their homes will have an opportunity next month to get ridof the items when the city waives the disposal fee at thelandfill.

Aldermen voted last week to not charge the $5-per-item disposalfee during July. Brookhaven Sanitation Department SuperintendentJimmy Cooks said there would be some exceptions to what thelandfill can accept.

“They can’t take hazardous materials, car batteries or tires,”Cooks said. “It’s just scrap metal.”

Items described as white goods include dishwashers, washers anddryers, water heaters, microwave ovens and stoves, air conditionersand scrap metal. City officials hope to publicize the list beforeand during July.

“I think people should have no confusion about what the itemsare,” said Mayor Bob Massengill during the board discussion.

Board members applauded the fee waiver month as a “greatidea.”

“It would be a relief to people and I think it would be worthdoing,” said Ward Four Alderwoman Shirley Estes.

Massengill said he had been approached by Keep Lincoln CountyBeautiful members Homer Richardson and Jimminette Phillips aboutaccepting white goods without charge.

“We wanted some way for people to get rid of all these thingswithout being clobbered by the fee,” Richardson said. “They wouldhave no reason not to take the items to the dump.”

Richardson pointed out that the community has not be able tohold a Hazardous Waste Disposal Day, which has included the chancethe get rid of white goods, in three years.

“This is wonderful opportunity by the city to let people usethat landfill,” Richardson said of the fee waiver month.

Richardson said officials have held Hazardous Waste DisposalDays three or four times in the last 10 years. However in recentyears, a tight state budget has restricted opportunities to holdthe events, which cost $12,000 to $15,000-plus, require volunteerand other assistance.

“It’s pretty expensive proposition,” Richardson said.

Jerry Case, who oversees operations at the landfill, said thefee waiver for the white goods should be effective in helping cleanup efforts.

“It would get a lot of them off the roads, streets or whereverthey are,” Case said. “I think it would be a good thing.”

Case said the number of white goods brought to the landfill fordisposal varies. He estimated there are a couple of items leftevery few days.

The white goods accumulate in a designated area at the landfilland are later sold as scrap metal. Case said a buyer picks up theitems whenever he can get three or four loads.

“Sometimes, it’s just two times a year,” Case said. “It dependson how much we get.”

The waiver would only be for people who bring their items to thelandfill for disposal. There will still be a $5 fee, paid inadvance, if city crews have to pick up the items.

The landfill is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.- 4p.m.