MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WZTV) — The City of Murfreesboro is officially headed to court after rejecting a proposed settlement with the operators of Middle Point Landfill, a site that has long been at the center of environmental and public health concerns.
After months of negotiations, the Murfreesboro City Council voted this week to turn down the deal from BFI and Republic Services. The proposed agreement would have required the companies to install treatment systems to reduce PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” and to implement a new plan to monitor odors and groundwater around the landfill.
For nearby residents like Melissa Farley, who live just miles from the site, the decision is personal.
“Well, the smell can get pretty bad,” Farley said. “What’s even more concerning for us is the PFAS in the water, it’s 34 times higher than in average landfills.”…