Controversial plan to expand Middle Point Landfill rejected
A regional board, meeting in Murfreesboro on Friday evening, rejected plans to expand a household waste landfill in Rutherford County — a decision with far-reaching consequences for surrounding counties that rely on the Middle Point facility to take in residents’ trash.
The landfill is the only facility in Middle Tennessee that takes in household garbage. Located in Rutherford County, its trash is trucked in from 34 counties, among them rapidly growing population centers in Nashville and in Wilson, Cheatham and Williamson Counties.
The unanimous rejection of expansion plans sought by landfill-owners Republic Services came after months of contentious public meetings and increasingly soured discussions between company representatives and county officials.
Republic Services had hoped to expand the 207-acre dump by nearly 100 additional acres, extending its lifespan. Without an expansion, operators have said it will reach capacity within 10 years, leaving nearly a third of the state without a landfill destination for trash.
Read more: https://tennesseelookout.com/2021/07/09/controversial-plan-to-expand-middle-point-landfill-rejected/