Republic Services presents 30-year "Rutherford County First" plan; commissioners hear mixed public reaction

Republic Services representative Mike Klassen presented a detailed master plan Wednesday evening that he said would provide Rutherford County a long-term solid-waste strategy while keeping the county “in the driver's seat.” The presentation, titled "Rutherford County First," outlined financial offers, operational changes and environmental oversight proposals but was made for information only; the committee did not vote on a contract.

Klassen said the plan would represent a $1,130,000,000 investment and offered, among other items, what he called free disposal for county residents for 50 years (a figure he valued at $769,000,000), the company taking operational and financial responsibility for closed county landfill liabilities, a contractual cap on out‑of‑county tons and a proposed doubling of the host fee on out‑of‑county waste from $1.20 to $2.50 per ton. "This master plan . . . puts Rutherford County squarely in the driver's seat," Klassen said. He emphasized the presentation was an initial proposal and subject to the commission's feedback.

The p…