About the Governmental Functions Division
The Division of Governmental Functions provides a wide variety of both administrative and technical services to local governments and other related entities.
Governmental Functions
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority Solid Waste Management Plan – Comprehensive Update 2025
The solid waste management plan was prepared to be in compliance with the criteria established by the Mississippi Legislature, specifically Mississippi Code § 17-17-225 and § 17-17-227 along with other State and Federal regulations. The solid waste management plan provides a comprehensive overview of the numerous solid waste facilities and solid waste management programs across the 3,876 square mile area of Calhoun, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc and Union counties.
This is a comprehensive update of the Solid Waste Management Plan prepared with the financial assistance of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. A total of eighteen plan modifications have been completed since the original approval by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The first revision (January 2010) was for the expansion of the Monroe County Rubbish Site. The second revision (July 2011) involved a sludge land application in Oxford, Lafayette County. The third (January 2013) revision is for the expansion of the New Albany-Pumpkin Center Rubbish Landfill in Union County. The fourth revision (August 2013) was for the operation of the Tupelo Wondura Rubbish Landfill in Lee County. The fifth revision (October 2013) was for the expansion of the TMCO Rubbish Landfill in Lee County. The sixth revision (December 2013) was for the construction and operation of the North Mississippi Recycling Solutions Class I Rubbish Landfill and recycling facility in Lafayette County. The seventh revision (June 2014) was in response to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Administrative Order No. 6375 13. The eighth revision (November 2014) was for the expansion of the City of Oxford rubbish landfill. The ninth revision (January 2015) was for the new industrial landfill at Tronox LLC in Hamilton, Mississippi. The tenth revision (October 2017) was for the expansion of the Monroe County Rubbish Site. The eleventh revision (May 2018) was for the new GreenServ medical sterilization facility in Lafayette County. The twelfth revision (May 2018) was for the expanded service area of the Mississippi Recycling Solutions Class I Rubbish Landfill and Recycling Facility. The thirteenth revision (August 2020) was an update of Chapter 10 of the Plan in response to MDEQ Administrative Order No. 5829 10 that provided a review of various solid waste needs. The fourteenth revision (August 2019) is for the expansion of the City of Bruce Class II Rubbish Landfill. The fifteenth revision (September 2020) was for the expansion of the Monroe County Class I Rubbish Landfill. The sixteenth revision (November 2022) was for the Akers Railroad Tie-Chipping Facility in Amory. The seventeenth revision (November 2023) was for the Wondura Class I Rubbish Landfill expansion and the Prairie Tire Recyclers facility. The eighteenth revision (January 2025) was for the expansion of the TMCO Rubbish Landfill.
It is the intended purpose of this solid waste management plan to be used by government agencies, Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority (TRSWMA), residents, institutions, and businesses throughout the planning area.
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority
The Governmental Functions Division provides administrative support to the Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority (Authority) as well. The Authority…
Has low landfill tipping fee at $23.00 per ton for ALL residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Authority’s region, less than half of the Southeast regional average.
Continued to market Authority-owned surplus land adjacent to the Three Rivers Regional Landfill for economic development projects.
Works in continued partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Pontotoc Electric Power Association generating up to 999kwh of electricity from methane gas produced by the Landfill and distributing that electricity to the “grid” for use by residents and businesses in the area.
Continued to provide regional waste tire and white goods (scrap metal)
collection and recycling programs.
Tuition Assistance Program
All graduating high school seniors receive tuition assistance for four (4) regular semesters at a Community College through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), a partnership created for Counties (and their partners) in the District that will allow graduating high school seniors to receive tuition assistance for four (4) regular semesters at a Community College.
The TAP is a ten (10) year program with a $25,000 maximum grant per year from the District that requires a local/private match equal to the lesser of 4 to 1 or the equivalent of what one (1) mill of tax will produce in the participating County. The TAP is administered by the District through a contract at no cost to participating Counties.
Students in participating Counties that wish to apply should contact their Community College Financial Aid Department for details. Federal and State grants, scholarships and VA benefits are applied first toward tuition with the TAP being the last funding source applied. Participating students must enroll in and successfully complete fifteen (15) semester hours and maintain a 2.0 grade point average throughout the program. The TAP continues to serve hundreds of students in the District.
Tanglefoot Trail®
The paved Tanglefoot Trail® provides a safe and scenic route for bicyclists,walkers, runners and others that live in our local communities as well as drawing visitors from multi-state and international destinations. Trail facilities such as Whistle Stop comfort stations, rest stops, rain stops, pavilions and warm-up stations are in place along the entire length of the Trail. The addition of other facilities and amenities continues.
The positive impact to the local economy has been seen by the increase of visitors to our area and the opening of new businesses along Trail towns and counties. Local businesses and citizens have embraced this regional asset by providing sponsorship support which assists the District to continue enhancements and growth along the trail.
The GM&O Rails-to-Trails Recreational District of North Mississippi (District) is comprised of the partnership of Union, Pontotoc and Chickasaw counties along with the municipalities of New Albany, Ecru, Algoma, New Houlka and Houston. These counties and municipalities developed and provide support for the growing success of the Trail. In September 2013, the multi-use recreational trail joined the national ranks of rails-to-trails projects and officially opened for public use. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the National Park Service designated the Tanglefoot Trail as a National Recreational Trail (NRT), which recognizes exemplary trails of local and regional significance.
The Tanglefoot Trail attained state and national acclaim when it was chosen by the Mississippi Department of Tourism as one of the trails to host a cycling ride for journalists during the Mississippi Bicentennial.
