Murfreesboro leaders challenge Middle Point Landfill’s permit change request
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — The destination for most of Rutherford and Davidson County’s trash is trying to find more space for waste, but state and city leaders are challenging the latest effort.
Middle Point Landfill in Rutherford County is expected to be at capacity in the next five years. To accept more trash without adding more acres to their facility, Middle Point has requested a permit change from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
“Middle Tennessee is approaching a trash crisis, we have massive amounts of growth, massive amounts of infrastructure need,” said Middle Point General Manager Mike Classen.
Classen explained they want to dump more waste on a plot of land that wasn’t previously suitable for more trash but now is.
“It’s not a major modification. It’s not an expansion of any kind. It’s just using the airspace that we already have permitted,” he said.
Classen said this move has been in the works since 2011 and they have been thoroughly monitoring and studying the area.
However, Classen’s assurances haven’t been enough to calm city and state leaders’ concerns.
While Classen has called this a “minor” permit modification, attorneys for the City of Murfreesboro disagree.
In letters sent to TDEC, a lawyer for the city said this is a “major” change and the public should be able to voice their opinions before the permit change is approved.
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“After years of noxious landfill gas permeating the community around Middle Point Landfill, the community should have input concerning a modification that can worsen the ongoing problems,” wrote attorney Gary Davis on behalf of the city.
This week, state Rep. Bryan Terry (R- Murfreesboro) and state Sen. Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) agreed with the City of Murfreesboro’s challenge to the proposed permit change.
“We believe this change could potentially negatively impact the environment, public health, and welfare,” they wrote in a letter to TDEC.
Classen said this is inaccurate and dumping more waste on this site won’t negatively impact Murfreesboro residents.
“What we’re proposing to do is really just a continuation of normal landfilling operations. So there’s no additional impact to human health, the environment, public welfare, including odors, including stormwater runoff,” he said.
Middle Point Landfill in Rutherford County and the City of Murfreesboro have been battling in the courts for the past couple of years.
The City of Murfreesboro has accused Middle Point of being a source of air and water pollution resulting in more than 2,000 complaints from residents in less than a year, which Middle Point has strongly denied.
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In a statement to News 2, a spokesperson for TDEC thanked the lawmakers for expressing their concerns.
“We are currently evaluating all available data and have not made a determination at this time regarding Middle Point’s application for a proposed modification,” wrote a TDEC spokesperson.
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