Rutherford County Solid Waste Advisory Council To Meet On Life After Mt. Trashmore

MURFREESBORO, TN — Though the Middle Point landfill outside of Murfreesboro — perhaps better known as "Mount Trashmore" — won't be at capacity until 2025, Rutherford County is continuing to prepare in earnest for what happens afterward.

Members of the Rutherford County Solid Waste/Advisory Steering Council will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Murfreesboro City Council Chamber.

Once Middle Point closes, Rutherford County taxpayers will lose free use of the landfill — the equivalent of $4 million annually – and the county will no longer receive approximately $900,000 a year, which is paid by 19 other counties, including Metro Davidson County, that use Middle Point.

“This is not a question of ‘if’ or ‘when,’ said Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, a committee member. “The question is how do we plan now so that we have something in place that is economically and environmentally sound when Middle Point reaches capacity."

County Mayor Ernest Burgess, also on the committee, said committee members are ready to move ahead.

“We got a good look at Rutherford County’s overall solid waste picture in our first meeting. Committee members have also examined how other communities are dealing successfully with similar circumstances.. Now, we can focus on the smartest steps we can take to put Rutherford Countians in a good position when Middle Point closes.”

The committee includes representatives from Rutherford County government as well as the cities of Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne and Eagleville.

After a series of open meetings, advisory committee members and consultants commissioned to study Middle Point will map out and present options for going forward.
Members of the advisory committee include:
Rutherford County
· Mayor Burgess
· Mike Kusch, County Commissioner
· Lynnisse Roehrich-Patrick, former Executive Director of TACIR
· Dr. Kathy Mathis, associate professor, MTSU
· Merry Hickerson, County Highway Department coordinator

Murfreesboro
· Mayor McFarland
· Kirt Wade, City Council Member
· Paul Latture, Chamber of Commerce
· Joe Whitefield, Vice President for Facilities, MTSU
· Jeremy Harrison, All in One Recycling

La Vergne
· Kyle Brown, Assistant City Administrator
· Garlon Russell, Public Works Manager

Smyrna
· Harry Gill, Town Manager
· H.G. Cole, Town Council Member

Eagleville
· Andrew Ellard, City Manager

The upcoming meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 27 in the Council chambers at Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. The public is invited to attend. The meeting will be streamed on local community access television.

For more information about the solid waste project, please visit, RenewalRutherford.com.

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