Sumner County Solid Waste Board adopts 2023 and 2024 plans after RASCO update

Sumner County Solid Waste Board members voted to adopt the county’s 2023 and 2024 solid-waste plans after a staff presentation on RASCO operations and regional landfill capacity.

The plans were approved by motion and second and carried by a voice vote with no recorded opposition. During the meeting a Sumner County staff member, Becky, reviewed recent operational issues at RASCO, recycling-performance figures and a proposed rail transfer option for construction-and-demolition material.

Becky, a Sumner County staff member, told the board that the county’s recycling rate “was about 27 or 28%,” above the state target of 25 percent, based on totals collected from the City of Gallatin, RASCO and local businesses. She said final data for the most recent reporting year was still being collected by the state and by corporate haulers.

Becky also reported a fire at RASCO in April 2024 that burned the transfer-station structure and left the facility out of service. She said the transfer-station rebuild is under way but that RASCO does not expect the new facility to be completed until the third quarter of 2026.

Board members and staff discussed regional disposal constraints. Becky said landfill capacity in the region is tightening and that Middle Point landfill — a key regional facility — is projected to reach capacity by June 2027. She said current interim disposal arrangements route municipal solid waste to Smith County and that other nearby options include Stewart and Montgomery counties, which have different permitting and oversight arrangements.

A major theme of the presentation was the value of separating construction-and-demolition (C&D) material from municipal solid waste to conserve landfill capacity. Becky described a private operator, the Hanesport Group, proposing a rail-served transfer operation near Steam Plant Road to move C&D material offsite by rail; the presenter said the Hanesport Group has operated similar rail transfer services elsewhere. Becky identified the former R.R. Donnelley building at 801 Steam Plant Road as a potential rail-served site and said rail repairs and site work would be required.

Becky told the board the county had on file both a load-transport services agreement and a disposal agreement that govern RASCO’s hauling and disposal arrangements. She recommended adoption of the written plans and related materials so the county meets the state reporting requirement; the board moved, seconded and approved adoption of the 2023 and 2024 plans by voice vote.

Board members asked for continuing engagement with regional partners. Becky encouraged attendance at RASCO board meetings and noted RASCO’s administrative office is at 625 Rappahannock Drive at the transfer station; she also pointed members to SumnerCountyTN.gov for committee meeting schedules.

The meeting ended after the board adopted the plans; staff and members noted the need to continue exploring rail and interlocal options to preserve landfill space and reduce long-haul trucking of low-density materials.