The Murfreesboro City Council agreed to annex Middle Point Landfill July 17 after all 10 public hearing speakers urged annexation.
Annexation will give the city government a “seat at the table” to hold Middle Point accountable regarding better approaches for solid waste, such as recycling, suggested Candida Layne, a Murfreesboro chairwoman of the local chapter for SOCM (Statewide Organizing for Community ePowerment).
Susan Allen with the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance speaks in favor of the city annexing the landfill during the public comments section of the Murfreesboro City council meeting on Thursday, July 17, 2025, before the council voted in favor of the annexation.
Mayor Shane McFarland and the five present council members voted 6-0 to annex the 827-acre Middle Point property, which includes the 207-acre landfill. Councilman Kirt Wade was absent.
“Middle Point Landfill has a long history of violations issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation,” Murfreesboro resident Susan Allen told the elected council.
“Just since the start of this year, there have been at least seven violations, including unsatisfactory litter control, inadequate erosion control, failure to confine waste to a manageable area, and inadequate maintenance of leachate systems, which can lead to water pollution.”
The mayor said that city officials are offended that Middle Point attorneys with the Nashville law firm Holland & Knight warned Murfreesboro Planning Commission Chairwoman Kathy Jones and City Attorney Adam Tucker “to abandon the current unlawful annexation effort.”
The landfill is owned by Republic Services, an Arizona-based publicly traded corporation for solid waste operations. Middle Point General Manager Mike Classen has proposed expansion of the landfill that’s estimated to be full by January 2029 based on current operations.
Murfreesboro and Rutherford County officials have opposed the landfill expansion for a solid waste operation near East Fork Stones River, which provides the drinking water source for the city and much of the county.
Assistant City Manager Sam Huddleston told the council that annexation would allow the city to enforce standards for development, stormwater, building and fire codes, flood planes and other requirements.
Solid waste issues: Middle Point Landfill’s push for expansion sparks mixed views in Rutherford County
10 public hearing speakers back annexation of landfill
Prior to the vote, the council heard the 10 residents express environmental concerns about the landfill, including Candida Layne, a Murfreesboro resident who’s the local chair of SOCM (Statewide Organizing for Community ePowerment).
Layne told the council that annexation will give the city “a seat at the table” to hold Middle Point accountable. She also urged the officials to advocate for recycling and materials recovery instead of burying trash at the landfill.
Allen, who’s president of the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance, expressed concerns about Middle Point acquiring soils from nearby former farmland and forests to cover the buried trash.
“The irony is disturbing: the soil meant to protect the environment at the landfill is destroying the environment elsewhere,” Allen said. “And when that soil isn’t available, the landfill risks falling out of compliance again − leaving garbage exposed and public health at risk.”
Most speak against landfill plan: Middle Point Landfill expansion plan faces opposition from most public comment speakers
Annexation would generate $39K in property taxes
This map in red shows the Murfreesboro government’s proposed 827-acre annexation of Middle Point Landfill property off East Jefferson Pike and Lebanon Pike near the north boundary of the city.
Annexation will generate an estimated $39,247 in annual property taxes for the Murfresboro government, but also require the local government to provide the services of police, firefighters and other city employees.
Middle Point since reaching a 1995 agreement has provided free disposal to the Murfreesboro government garbage trucks hauling residential and commercial trash. The landfill also takes the city’s sludge from a wastewater treatment plant free of charge.
The 1995 agreement also allows Rutherford government garbage trucks to dump for free at the Middle Point Landfill. The county collects a host fee, as well, from the trash hauled to the landfill from outside Rutherford. The host fee has generated an annual revenue ranging from $750,000 to $1.2 million, Rutherford solid waste officials have reported.
The landfill has operated since 1989 in Rutherford’s rural Walter Hill community since winning zoning approval in 1987 from the County Commission.
‘Times have changed’: How landfill decisions in 1987, 1995 shaped Rutherford County today
Management responds to proposed annexation
Crews work the Middle Point Landfill on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Middle Point Landfill management provided the following statement to The Daily News Journal about the proposed annexation.
“Middle Point Landfill does not oppose annexation and has not opposed annexation since 1995, when our business entered a contract with the city to access sewer and water services. While we have always encouraged public deliberation about Middle Point, tonight’s (July 17) meeting and subsequential outcome, per our contract and recent communications with the city, will have no impact on our employees or operations in Rutherford County.”
Myths or facts: Myths or facts: Middle Point Landfill official refutes 6 criticisms
Middle Point management questions city oversight over landfill
Republic Services trucks arrives at Middle Point Landfill on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
Middle Point Landfill is regulated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the statement noted.
Annexation does not give the city authority to determine the future of Middle Point Landfill or to regulate its operation in a manner that is inconsistent with the regulation of other businesses in Murfreesboro, the statement added.
This is a developing story.
Timeline: A look at Rutherford County’s 39-year history with landfill operations
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro City Council votes to annex Middle Point Landfill