Arkansas DEQ Disposal Rules, Explained for Fort Smith

You don't need to become an expert in Arkansas waste law to run a Fort Smith project - but knowing the handful of rules that actually apply saves money and headaches. Here's the short version.

The regional landfill

Arkansas permits several kinds of disposal site, and the one that matters for a building project here is the City of Fort Smith regional landfill on Commerce Road - a regional landfill that accepts construction and demolition debris, along with other approved special wastes, from Sebastian County and the border counties.

Your project's debris goes there, not out with curbside pickup and not to the county recycling drop-offs that handle household recyclables.

The burning prohibition

Arkansas DEQ rules prohibit open burning of construction, demolition and trade waste. Treated wood can't be burned anywhere in the state, and open burning of yard waste is restricted inside the Fort Smith city limits.

That's why a container, not a burn pile, is how a real job's debris leaves a Fort Smith property.

Household hazardous waste

Arkansas and the county keep hazardous material out of landfills and containers. Paint, solvents, motor oil, pesticides and pool chemicals go to the Sebastian County household hazardous waste facility.

Tires must be cut and quartered, Freon appliances need the refrigerant recovered, and electronics have their own route too. Keeping them out of the box is a rule, not a preference.

Covered loads and clean sites

Arkansas requires loads to be covered and secured for the haul, and special wastes must be approved for disposal by the landfill and Arkansas DEQ. Near the Arkansas River, keeping debris and sediment contained is part of it.

A local hauler does all of this by default - covered loads, proper disposal, streams sorted.

What it means for you

In practice the rules come down to four things: project debris goes to the regional landfill, you can't burn it, hazardous items go to the county facility, and loads travel covered. A local hauler handles every one of them.

You get compliance without the paperwork - and one flat price.