Murfreesboro Targets 85% Waste Diversion by 2027
The city aims to lower landfill dependency through a new waste processing agreement to be active by late 2027.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Environmental
Live Poll
Should your city prioritize new trash-processing programs to reduce dependence on local landfills?
Murfreesboro has signed a letter of intent with Morrison-based WastAway to process city waste. The initiative aims to divert 85% of municipal trash from landfills by the end of 2027.
Why it matters
The move seeks to reduce local reliance on the Middle Point Landfill amid ongoing federal litigation regarding environmental compliance. The city faces pressure to address public demand for recycling and potential pollution risks near the East Fork Stones River drinking water source.
The program targets an 85% diversion rate of material from landfill disposal. This initiative follows a year in which state environmental inspectors identified seven distinct observations at the Middle Point Landfill.
The players
Murfreesboro
The city government currently litigating the environmental impacts of local landfill operations.
WastAway
A Morrison, Tennessee-based firm specializing in waste processing and sorting technologies.
Middle Point Landfill
The site of a federal lawsuit involving allegations of Clean Air and Clean Water Act violations.
The details
WastAway manages the mechanical sorting of municipal waste collected from standard residential bins. This processing allows for the separation of materials that otherwise contribute to the volume currently sent to the Middle Point Landfill. The project supports broader city efforts to mitigate environmental impacts related to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act as currently litigated in federal court.
Timeline
State environmental inspectors identified seven landfill observations in 2025.
City officials announced the letter of intent on October 29, 2026.
The city targets a program start date by the end of 2027.
The Tech Race
This agreement follows the city's ongoing federal lawsuit against Middle Point Landfill, Republic Services, and BFI over environmental regulatory compliance. It reflects a strategic push to bypass current disposal constraints while addressing public mandates for local recycling infrastructure.
Residents will continue using their existing trash bins for weekly collection on regular pickup days without immediate changes to their routine. The new processing workflows are not scheduled to reach the community until the end of 2027.
The takeaway
The city is positioning this processing contract as a mechanism to lower its environmental footprint and dependence on disputed landfill capacity. Observers should track the project's milestones toward the late-2027 start date to verify if the 85% diversion metric is met.
Further reading
For broader updates on local sustainability efforts, visit Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WZTV.
Live Poll
Should your city prioritize new trash-processing programs to reduce dependence on local landfills?
