The city of Murfreesboro is filing a federal lawsuit against the owners and operators of Middle Point landfill.
Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland says it’s for several reasons including environmental concerns like gas odors and contaminated liquids.
“The sources of the odor are simply not trash at the landfill. Landfill-related odors are connected to the way a site is operated, including how the gases and millions of gallons of leachate produced by the landfill are collected and managed,” McFarland says.
He says in February an outside consultant used infrared lights and found gas flares. While laying out the highlights of the city’s case, McFarland says landfill owners Republic Services confirmed the problems would be gone but weren’t.
The Middle Point landfill collects most of Middle Tennessee’s trash, and it could fill up by 2027.
The local government and landfill owners, including Republic Services, have come to several dead ends trying to resolve the issue.
The owners want to add 99 adjacent acres. But the regional solid waste board has denied the expansion. The county and city mayor have been vocal opponents of the expansion as well.
Since launching an online portal almost a year ago, Murfreesboro received more than 2,000 complaints.
Republic Services says it’s reviewing the complaint now. In the last 18 months, the company says it’s spent more than $6 million to improve infrastructure at the landfill.
“The community can be assured that Middle Point remains committed to being a safe and responsible landfill operator and good neighbor,” the company tells WPLN News in a statement.
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