Beyond the Landfill: How “Recycle Right Tennessee” Aims to Clean Up

Jul 03, 2025 at 11:53 pm by WGNS News



RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - On today’s episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker sits down with Donna Barrett of the Central Tennessee Solid Waste Planning Board to dig deep into a topic that affects everyone — our trash! With the Rutherford County Transfer Station now complete and the Middle Point Landfill’s days numbered — expected to close in under six years — local leaders are under increasing pressure to find sustainable solutions for the region’s growing waste challenges. Donna shares how leaders from Rutherford, Cannon, Coffee, and Warren counties are collaborating to turn an inevitable problem into an opportunity for innovation.

A key takeaway: Recycling is the missing link. Donna Barrett discusses how the new “Recycle Right Tennessee” pilot program aims to fill this gap by educating communities and giving residents practical ways to recycle smarter and more efficiently. As ideas for the future of garbage disposal are tossed around — and sometimes tossed out — one thing is clear: the time for action is now if we want a cleaner, more sustainable Central Tennessee for generations to come.

 

Tags: Central Tennessee garbage planning Donna Barrett WGNS landfill alternatives Tennessee Middle Point Landfill closure Recycle Right Tennessee recycling education Tennessee recycling pilot program Tennessee Rutherford County environment Rutherford County recycling Rutherford County sustainability Rutherford County transfer station Rutherford County trash future solid waste planning board Tennessee solid waste solutions waste management Rutherford County WGNS Action Line podcast
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