The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia has approved the purchase of the Cherokee Industrial Landfill and adjoining acreage in Barton. The landfill is permitted to accept inert, construction and demolition waste, and provisions are in place to allow for future expansion. The Solid Waste Disposal Authority will issue approximately $14 million in revenue bonds and $4 million in taxable bonds to finance the purchase, and future development of additional cells. The bonds are expected to have a 30-year term.
The authority will lease the landfill to CWI Cherokee, which, under the terms of the lease, will be responsible for paying the operational costs, debt service on bonds, future development costs and final closure expenses. The authority will lease the Shoals Transfer Station. The transfer station will serve as the collection point for all municipal solid waste, including household garbage, for the cities and its customers, including Colbert County. The waste is currently being transported to a landfill out of state.