News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Landfill must open a new cell due to the amount of debris from the March tornado.
Solid Waste Director Keith Street said before the tornado, the current cell had enough room for two years of trash. In just a few months, over 20,000 tons of tornado debris filled the remainder of the landfill.
“We went from 80 tons a day on a normal collection day to 800 tons a day during the tornado,” Street said. “It filled up pretty quick.”
Street said the new cell opening up is 3.5 acres and will last around 10 years. The filled cell will be capped off with soil and planted with grass.
“A cell is just terminology from solid waste and TDEC out of Nashville uses,” Street said. “It is just a parcel of land that we prep and start putting debris in.”
Street said the new cell is also needed due to population increases in Cookeville. The parcel of land used for the new cell is located at the landfill and owned by the county.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires landfill cells to prevent leakage into ground water, compact and cover waste frequently and be built away from wetlands. Construction, demolition, yard waste such as brush and all tires off the rim go to the landfill. Furniture and electronics are not accepted.
