NASHVILLE, TN - On Thursday in Nashville at the Chancery Court of Davidson County, representatives of the Middle Point Landfill in Rutherford County are appealing the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Board's decision to deny their application for a northern expansion. Officials of the landfill, that sits in the Rutherford County area of Walter Hill believe wholeheartedly, the denial was politically motivated and not based on fact or merit. They are also concerned that if the expansion is not approved, it will lead to an impending trash crisis in Middle Tennessee.

Last year, the solid waste planning board rejected the landfill proposal to expand by 99-acres. A similar vote was recorded in 2021, as well. The same board rejected a proposal to expand by 207 acres in July, 2-years ago. In March of this year, Middle Point Landfill General Manager Mike Classen argued that Rutherford County was continuing to head towards a major trash crisis.

The hearing today is between the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Board (a separate government entity) and Middle Point about an expansion to a new area of the landfill. The City of Murfreesboro intervened in the regional board appeal, in an attempt to confuse the issues. This expansion application is an issue between the regional board and Middle Point.

WGNS will be following the hearing closely and will report on the outcome. Here are some additional questions that have arisen…

• Some of the questions awaiting answers by landfill officials revolve around asking, what are the specific reasons that the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Board denied Middle Point's application for a northern expansion?
• On the flipside, what evidence does Middle Point have to support their claim that the denial was politically motivated?
• What are the potential environmental impacts of a northern expansion?
• What are the potential economic impacts of a northern expansion?
• What are the alternative options for solid waste disposal in Middle Tennessee if the northern expansion is not approved?

According to landfill officials, “This hearing has nothing to do with the City of Murfreesboro. The pending litigation with the city is based on allegations of odor/PFAS at Middle Point Landfill and a contract from 1993 between the city and the landfill.” 

The hearing is between the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Board (a separate government entity) and Middle Point about an expansion to a new area of the landfill. The City of Murfreesboro intervened in the regional board appeal, in an attempt to confuse the issues. This expansion application is an issue between the regional board and Middle Point.