Rep. Bryan Terry Backs Charge Against 70-Foot Landfill Expansion: “Quality of Life at Stake, Process Needs to Halt”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, is backing the city of Murfreesboro’s legal challenge to Middle Point Landfill’s (MPL) proposed major expansion and supporting a related resolution before the Rutherford County Commission.

BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee submitted a 627-page proposal to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) seeking a 70-foot vertical expansion that would add an estimated 19 million tons of waste on top of the existing landfill.

The city of Murfreesboro and the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Planning Board filed a lawsuit on Monday claiming BFI is attempting to bypass the state-mandated regional review process for the construction or expansion of a solid waste facility.

“Any proposal adding capacity beyond what a current permit allows is an expansion,” Terry said. “This application expands what amounts to a second landfill on top of the existing one. State law requires a region’s solid waste board to be involved in situations like this and that didn’t occur here. The process needs to halt until it does.”

The city and the board are asking for injunctive relief to halt the minimum 240-day review process of the application and that all legal requirements be followed.

The Rutherford County Commission Steering Committee met on Dec. 1 and passed a resolution supporting the state’s Jackson Law, which allows local governments to prohibit new landfills or incinerators within their boundaries. The committee also added support for the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Planning Board.

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“Quality of life matters and we need a local voice in decisions that can negatively affect our community,” Terry said. “Before the meeting, I was contacted about the resolution, and knowing both the limits of the Jackson Law and the Solid Waste Board’s positive work, I recommended adding the Board to the resolution.”

Terry’s suggestion comes amid a long history of legal battles over the landfill. In 2021, the Central Tennessee Regional Solid Waste Planning Board denied BFI’s request for a 99-acre northern expansion. That decision was ultimately upheld in Davidson County Chancery Court and after nearly four years of litigation, BFI withdrew its appeal in February.

Throughout his time in the legislature, Terry has made protecting his constituents from the impacts of poor solid waste management a consistent priority.

In 2022, he spearheaded the passage of a law preventing TDEC from issuing a landfill permit when the courts have ruled against it, reinforcing local oversight and judicial review.

This spring, he guided the creation of the Advisory Task Force on Solid Waste, which will meet over the next four years to study statewide disposal practices and explore alternatives such as recycling and incineration.

“My district has been burdened by MPL for years and expansions like this would only make the problem worse,” Terry said. “While landfilling will remain part of the solution, we must explore alternatives with the task force and push back when proposals create unacceptable impacts. No one wants to see a trash-ridden mountain when driving into town nor choke on noxious odors with their kids at a soccer match.”

Terry emphasized the importance of allowing the task force time to complete its work before any long-term decisions are made.

The task force’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. in the Cordell Hull Building House Hearing Room III.

Bryan Terry represents District 48 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes the eastern half of Rutherford County.