Rutherford County, Tennessee - The ongoing dialogue between Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr and Middle Point Landfill continues, with discussions centered around the potential cessation of incoming waste from areas beyond Rutherford County. However, Middle Point Landfill's General Manager, Mike Classen, clarified that their commitment is limited to reducing incoming waste, stopping short of an assurance to halt waste from outside the county...

Simultaneously, within the City of Murfreesboro, plans are in motion for an alternative waste disposal location on Butler Drive near Joe B. Jackson Parkway. The City has sought county approval for a bio-gas facility at this site, aiming to generate renewable natural gas. Despite these intentions, Classen indicated that even the City cannot guarantee the exclusion of out-of-county waste if they proceed with their proposed bio-gas facility...

Republic Services is also planning a renewable natural gas facility at the Middle Point Landfill...

The City of Murfreesboro is steadfast in its plans to establish a Materials Management Station, known as the South Transfer Station, on Butler Drive. This project involves processing the City's residential solid waste for either shipment to a landfill or conversion into a marketable energy product by a company called WastAway. Officials highlight that WastAway's process diverts 90 percent of solid waste, with 70 percent transformed into an SE3 biomass fuel (coal/wood equivalent). The remaining 10 percent still requires landfill disposal. Approximately 7 percent of the City's waste stream consists of recoverable metals destined for recycling, while the residual moisture is eliminated as part of the WastAway process.

These developments underscore the complex landscape of waste management in the region, with ongoing efforts to balance environmental sustainability, waste reduction, and energy generation. As discussions and initiatives progress, the community remains engaged in shaping the future of waste disposal practices in Rutherford County and the City of Murfreesboro.