There's lots of construction around and many are bringing debris to the convenience centers. But there are restrictions.

"People want to bring new construction waste to the centers which we are not permitted to take per our permit. El Bethel is the only center that accepts these materials. We will only take what is attached to the house (deck) or small do it yourself projects, not a full remodel. We will take a small amount of sheet rock if it bagged or a small amount of insulation." Diane Forbes, County Solid Waste Coordinator

Diane Forbes, coordinator for Bedford County Solid Waste Department, said during her report last Tuesday before the financial management committee that community growth has certainly increased trash-related costs over the last 3 years.
For all of 2025, the County was up 251.50 tons over the previous year. “That was a really hefty increase in garbage.”
Forbes said in 2022-2023 there were 101 tons and 2023-2024 it was 131. In 2024-2025, tonnage jumped to 251. Forbes said that price increase equated to $142,000.
“So, it’s costing us a lot for garbage.”
Mayor Chad Graham asked her if that tonnage is associated with local growth. Forbes said yes, and in addition, the price increased when the contract had to be re-negotiated with ISWA (Interlocal Solid Waste Authority which manages solid waste contracts for the region.)
“But the tonnage itself?” repeated Graham.
“Oh yes, the tonnage itself is due to the increase of people in the County.”
Forbes said construction debris continues to be a problem in that there’s so much construction going on around that everybody’s wanting to bring it to the center to get rid of it.
For her quarterly recycling report, Forbes said total revenue was $40,201.80 at 291.80 tons.
Landfill expenses for the quarter came to $151,493.07. Tonnage was over 3,000.
Savings, she explained, for not using the landfill for local commodities, came to $13,399.41.
January’s landfill disposal cost and tonnage was down quite a bit, she said.