The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded Choctaw County a $7,812 grant to assist the county in employing a local solid waste enforcement officer.

Choctaw County has named Sheriff's Deputy James Brooks the County's Solid Waste Enforcement Officer. With this title comes the duty of enforcing litter laws and investigating the causes of illegal dumping sites. Brooks is responsible for locating information among the trash dumped illegally that can be used to locate the offender. "We are pleased this grant will assist Choctaw County's efforts in improving their management of solid waste," said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ Executive Director.

Cities and counties compete for Solid Waste Assistance Grants through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. These grants are utilized by local communities for programs to prevent and clean up unauthorized dumps; to aid in hiring local solid waste enforcement officers; for public education efforts on solid waste disposal and recycling; and, to establish programs for the collection of white goods, bulky wastes and recyclables.

The funding provided by MDEQ is added to the general fund and in turn used to fund a portion of Brooks' salary. Each year the Sheriff must nominate a deputy to serve as the solid waste enforcement officer.

The deputy nominated continues to make the same rate of pay as they received before being named as the solid waste enforcement officer.