Rutherford County Completes Unprecedented Successful First Month of Transfer Station Operations
Rutherford County has completed its first month of transfer station operations, collecting a total of 7,965 tons of solid waste, generating $653,797 in tipping fees for July, yielding proceeds of $66,616 for the operation of the Solid Waste department.
That monthly total equates to an average volume per day plus or minus of 400 tons of solid waste not deposited into the landfill located in Rutherford County. Transfer Station Customers now enjoy a turnaround time of less than 15 minutes through the scales while allowing them to have the solid waste tipping experience on brand new paved roads, resulting in less tire and equipment damage.
Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr presented the numbers to the Public Works committee, along with Rutherford County Solid Waste Director Bishop Wagener, with members of the Solid Waste team in the audience.
“The success of the first month of this facility is no shock to me as I harnessed my start up business experience, creating several successful multi-million dollar companies before I became mayor,” Carr said. “There were some who opposed the transfer station and went as far as to suggest the sale of the old Rutherford County Landfill. I couldn’t be more pleased as these preliminary results catapult us into solid waste independence and leverage the county to recycle and compost more material to divert from all landfills. I’m not bragging, it’s just fact, this is what winning looks like.”
Carr further detailed that success like this can only be achieved with the collaboration of multiple county departments including but not limited to Solid Waste, the Office of Information Technology led by Chief Information Officer Cody York and the Highway Department led by Road Superintendent Greg Brooks.
Rutherford County Commissioner Steve Pearcy, who represents District 2, where the transfer station is located, congratulated the entire team on their overwhelming success.
“I’m very appreciative of this being built and operated and want to thank everybody on this committee that has helped support it. The greater part in my eyes is that’s nearly 8,000 ton being diverted from the top of that landfill in Walter Hill, put a price on that, you can’t. To divert that from getting that much larger in a month, there’s no way you could put a value on what that’s worth to the Walter Hill people, thank you,” Pearcy said.
Customers are contacting the county expressing gratitude for the opportunity to utilize the first class facility located right where they live and work.
“You guys helped make July the best month ever for us,” Trash Pandy LLC Owner William Shackelford stated in an email to the mayor’s office staff.
“I want to thank my team for all of their efforts,” Wagener said. “We have demonstrated what dedicated professionals can accomplish when we work together as a cohesive team.”
The collaboration with our partners at the transfer station has been effortless and smooth.
Carr believes the first month's operating results, which are just the beginning of a successful operation silence all critics, cynics, and detractors of the transfer station.
A transfer station is a facility where solid waste is delivered to and prepared for transport to its final destination. The 12,500-square-foot concrete building at 6000 Landfill Road in Murfreesboro was completed in 22 months and under budget at $17 million dollars.
More information about the transfer station can be found at https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/transfer_station
A recording of the Ribbon-cutting and Tipping Floor Christening event that was held on Global Garbage Man Day, June 17th can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoqKRcHFgPA.