Residents press county on landfill expansion as solid-waste staff present transfer-station update

At the Rutherford County Public Works and Planning Committee meeting on March 4, 2025, a string of residents urged commissioners not to approve any expansion of Bridal/Middle Point landfill and to stop accepting out‑of‑county residential trash, while Rutherford County Solid Waste Director Bishop Wagner presented monthly tonnage and progress on a new transfer and management facility.

The public comments drew repeated references to alleged environmental problems and long-term liability. “I do know that since 02/2018, Middlepointe has had 33 TDEC violations, of which 11 were major, and there have also been 2 fires at the landfill,” said Sean McGowan, a North Murfreesboro resident who opposed expansion. McGowan said Republic Services’ proposal discussed last month would extend capacity by about 50 years, a span he said would outlast current residents.

Those comments were countered by other citizens who supported keeping waste local. “We have the room. What we need to do is stop taking Nashville's household waste,” said Kennedy Holloway, who identified himself as a lifelong Rutherford County resident and said keeping local waste helps keep taxes low.

Bishop Wagner,…