Members of the Rutherford County Solid Waste/Advisory Steering Council will meet at 5 p.m. Feb. 27 in the County Commission chamber, as they focus on specific options for solid waste due to approaching changes in the current system.

Currently, Rutherford County taxpayers have free use of the Middle Point landfill - worth at least $4 million annually - and the county receives approximately $900,000 a year from other counties that use Middle Point. Committee members are working to define solutions that will best serve Rutherford County for years to come.

"The way we currently handle solid waste is inevitably going to change," said Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, a committee member. "We are eager to pinpoint the best way to go forward - the way that best serves our taxpayers. We will prepare by taking steps that are sound, both for the economy and the environment."

Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess, also on the committee, said, "We are moving toward choosing a plan that we can recommend to the community. Committee members have visited several other communities and evaluated their approaches to solid waste disposal. We have studied an array of options.

"Now, we can focus on the best options for Rutherford County and move ahead on what will work best in our communities."

The committee includes representatives from Rutherford County government as well as the cities of Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne, and Eagleville.

For more information on this and other developments about the issue of Rutherford County's solid waste future, visit RenewalRutherford.com.

The Feb. 27 meeting is the third of a series of open meetings. Next, advisory committee members and consultants - who have been commissioned to study Rutherford County's solid waste situation - will map out and present the best options for the future. Community input will be important to the process.