The Joint Solid Waste Coordinating Committee was established in 1992 between the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County and The Board of Commissioners of Oglethorpe County. The committee is comprised of three (3) appointments from each county.  The committee meets on a regularly scheduled basis (twice per year).  The committee was established out of a contract between the county of Clarke and Oglethorpe regarding the use of the Athens-Clarke County Landfill (municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill) and the Oglethorpe County Construction and Demolition  (C&D) landfill. 

The purpose of the committee is to keep each county informed of any developments on solid waste management at a local, state and national level, to discuss any changes in fees, policies, regulations and ordinances at both landfills, to attempt to resolve any problems or disputes that may arise between the parties, and to develop strategies for the further implementation of the intent of the agreement between the two counties relative to joint long range solid waste management programs.