State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, has proposed legislation to analyze solid waste management in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, has proposed legislation to analyze solid waste management in Tennessee.
House Bill 667 creates the Advisory Task Force on Solid Waste to examine disposition of solid waste across the state and explore innovative methods for handling waste moving forward, such as incineration, agricultural use and energy production.
“It is essential we review our approach to solid waste management in Tennessee,” Terry said. “My community, House District 48, is burdened by the state’s largest landfill and this task force will explore ways to address solid waste without putting an undue strain on our communities. It will not only assess our current situation, but will develop a plan over the next four years for efficient waste management.”
The Middle Point Landfill (MPL), located in Rutherford County, accepts 3,700 tons of trash per day from multiple counties, according to its website. Community members, as well as county and state leaders have expressed concerns over the landfill’s management as it nears capacity.
Republic Services, the parent company of MPL, recently proposed an expansion of the landfill extending their operations for 50 years.
The Rutherford County Commission responded by approving a resolution to support the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Planning Board’s approval of flow control on MPL to limit acceptance of solid waste to only Rutherford, Cannon, Coffee and Warren counties.
When a landfill is approaching capacity, they typically reduce their daily tonnage and increase fees in order to extend its lifespan. For example, if MPL accepts 850,000 tons per year, they have a lifespan of 6.6 years. But, if flow control decreases the daily tonnage by two-thirds, the lifespan of MPL could extend to around 20 years.
“Given this timeline and the state potentially exploring alternatives like incineration, there’s no reason to rush into decisions that could burden our community for another 50 years,” Terry said.
Incineration is one alternative method for reducing landfill volume while also benefiting the community. The process involves burning waste at high temperatures, using the heat produced to generate steam, which can then be harnessed to produce electricity.
There are 75 facilities in the United States that recover energy from the combustion of municipal solid waste in 25 states, according to the Environment Protection Agency. Countries like Japan, South Korea and several in Europe have also implemented this process.
“I’ve had frequent meetings with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and incineration has been a topic of conversation,” Terry said “Technology has advanced significantly and we should explore more sustainable solutions than simply burying our trash.”
The task force will be charged with reviewing processes like incineration and identifying the most efficient ways to utilize current landfills across the state.
It would consist of 15 members including a representative from the governor’s office, seven Senate members and seven House members. Appointees from the General Assembly will be selected by the Speakers of the House and Senate, and must have expertise in solid waste management or related fields.
Members would serve on the task force until June 30, 2029 or until their term as a legislator ends. In such cases, a new member would be appointed to take their place.
The task force’s findings would be provided in an annual report to the General Assembly and made publicly available on the legislature’s website.
House Bill 667 advanced out of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on April 1 and is expected to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on April 9.
Bryan Terry, MD, represents House District 48 which includes the eastern half of Rutherford County.
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