The petition has been updated to include the Central Tennessee Region Solid Waste Planning Board, who will be holding a public comments meeting tomorrow June 28th at 6pm at the old County Courthouse on the square. Please arrive at 5:30 to get on the list to make a public comment. Stop the Superdump will be there and will be presenting the board with a copy of this petition and a list of signed supporters who are against the expansion of the Middle Point Landfill.

More info about public comments meeting:

The Central Tennessee Region Solid Waste Planning Board will hold a public hearing about the proposal from Republic Services during a 6 p.m. June 28th meeting at the Rutherford County Courthouse in downtown Murfreesboro. The event will also give representatives of Republic Services, the Phoenix-based owner of the existing 207.3-acre landfill, the opportunity to speak about their expansion permit application with the state. This plan would add 99.45 acres to the landfill off East Jefferson and Lebanon Pikes in the Walter Hill community north of Murfreesboro.

Stop the Superdump is against this expansion and future expansions. We are asking concerned residents to come and share their experiences regarding the Middle Point Landfill and solid waste practices here in Rutherford County. Bottom line: Landfills should never be that big or that stinky. Burying waste in the ground should be our last resort, not our first. We want to see big changes in our solid waste policy, like adapting zero waste initiatives.

For 33 years, Republic Services has operated that landfill with very little oversight. We are also asking for better practices and increased transparency in landfill operations, as well as more local control over the landfill.

If you wish to speak at the Public Comments Meeting, please plan to arrive at the courthouse at 5:30 pm and ask the secretaries to put your name on the list for public comments.

Speaking tips: write out what you would like to say and practice at least once. Print out a copy to read from. Speak about your personal experiences with the landfill and solid waste in general in Rutherford County. Please be careful about repeating unverified stories. Please be respectful and do not to curse or throw insults at the landfill operators, elected officials, or decision makers. Remember, we are all in this together.

Thank you who supported this campaign!