Smith County Landfill considers new closing times and regulations to manage increased traffic

The Wilson County government meeting on June 5, 2025, focused on pressing issues regarding solid waste management and operational challenges at local convenience centers. The meeting featured a report from Cindy Lynch, who highlighted a decline in landfill revenue for May, amounting to $22,008, although the fiscal year-to-date figures showed an increase of $376,000 compared to the previous year.

Lynch reported an uptick in waste collection, with an additional 42 tons sent to Smith County compared to the same period last year. However, the recycling program faced challenges, with a 57-ton increase in materials collected but a revenue drop of $761. The convenience centers reported pulling 519 loads, an increase of 53 loads from the previous year, indicating a rise in usage.

A significant concern raised during the meeting was the need for new regulations at the convenience centers due to an influx of out-of-county residents, particularly from Sumner and Davidson counties. Lynch noted that confrontations at the centers had increased dramatically, from about five per week to ten per day, largely due to the high volume of non-resident users. To address this, she proposed limiting the number of bulky items residents could dispose of to one piece per visit.

Additionally, the meeting discussed potential changes to the operating hours of the landfill. Currently, the landfill closes at 5 PM, but there were suggestions to adjust the closing time to 4:30 PM or 4:45 PM to allow staff adequate time to clean up and exit without incurring overtime costs. This change aims to reduce confusion among users and improve operational efficiency.

The discussions highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Wilson County in managing solid waste and the need for regulatory adjustments to ensure the convenience centers operate smoothly while serving the local community effectively. The county plans to further evaluate these proposals and implement necessary changes in the coming months.