Tennessee’s largest landfill violated air and water rules this year, prompting new tensions

Middle Point Landfill received seven violations from the state this year related to litter and liquid runoff.

In March, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation noted “major violations” in an inspection, due to poor maintenance of a system that handles leachate, the liquid byproduct from landfills that can be harmful, as well as litter control. The landfill received other warnings for “minor violations” between June and September this year.

The city that houses the landfill, Murfreesboro, also issued violations in September for air and water pollution. Throughout 2024 and 2025, a consultant group measured high readings of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

“In many cases, these emissions are corrected during the required time period,” attorneys from Davis, Johnston and Ri