News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County Solid Waste Director Doug Ashburn said the recently acquired land to expand the county’s landfill was a good deal.
The county commission approved the purchase of 23.5 acres for some $155,000. Ashburn said the property expands the life of the landfill by 15-20 years.
“That gives you the chance to use some of the soil off of it or with TDEC regulations, you can not have a residence within so many feet of the landfill footprint, and that just opens us up for the future for years to come,” Ashburn said.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the county has seen an increase in waste when considering the construction boom and past tornado debris. The county has now purchased two properties to expand the landfill in the last six months.
“Anytime we can buy property around that landfill that’s going to extend that life, it’s a very good deal,” Porter said. “I remember back in the 80’s when they were searching for this landfill property to have a landfill, and it was a nightmare for the county commission.”
Porter said coming across land for sale near the facility does not happen often. This marks only the third land acquisition in the past seven years, according to Porter.
Ashburn said the class C and D landfill is for debris and construction materials. Porter said the property has been soil tested and is appropriate for use.
