Nashville, TN - Last week, former Tennessee Representative Donna Barrett stood before the Tennessee State Advisory Task Force on Solid Waste with a message that resonated far beyond the walls of the meeting room. Her concern? The Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro, which she says has become a dumping ground not just for local refuse, but for trash from 27 other counties and six different states.

The task force itself was formed to tackle a growing and unavoidable question: where will Tennessee communities send their trash as existing landfills reach capacity and new ones face fierce opposition? That opposition often boils down to a familiar phrase—“not in my backyard.” But Barrett offered a sharp twist on that sentiment.

“When the landfill in your backyard is not just your landfill but twenty-seven other counties and six other states,” she said, “that is an obstacle to overcome. It’s not a matter of not in our backyard. It is a matter of not everybody else’s trash in our backyard.”

Her words struck a chord with many in attendance, especially those from Rutherford County who have long voiced concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the landfill’s operations. Barrett’s testimony adds weight to a growing chorus of voices calling for a more equitable and sustainable approach to waste management—one that doesn’t leave a single community shouldering the burden for an entire region.

As the task force continues its work, Barrett’s remarks serve as a reminder that the issue isn’t just about trash—it’s about fairness, responsibility, and the future of Tennessee’s communities.