Commission backs existing ban on commercial dumping at Trousdale County convenience center

The Trousdale County Commission voted to support the county's existing policy that the convenience center does not accept commercial dumping, after staff described a recent surge in commercial-style loads placed at a recycling/drop-off site.

Chair opened the solid-waste discussion and asked Cliff to explain the contract with Smith County and how commercial dumping is treated. Cliff said, “As far as this contract's concerned, the commercial dumping is not from the landfill. The commercial dumping goes back to, when the convenience center was opened.” He told commissioners the original operators decided commercial loads would not be accepted because the service is paid for by county residents.

Commissioners and staff said the problem recently flared when customers of a pallet resale business began leaving large mixed loads with cardboard, metal and electronics; Cliff said staff began stopping those deliveries after discovering out-of-county and repeat commercial dumping. “We put a stop to it because we were getting out of county residents and people not even from Travisville County that are dumping in there,” Cliff said.

Commission members discussed practical responses: renters could use commercial roll-off dumpsters for their customers, staff can continue directing commercial haulers to Smith County landfill, and the county can post clear rental and fee information. Cliff noted roll-off rentals are already available and that the county provides cardboard pickup as a free recycling service but cannot spend extra staff time sorting contaminated piles.

Committee member 4 proposed a written policy: “If you have commercial waste, you rent or do you rent a roll off? If you do not have commercial waste, then it's considered personal waste.” Chair asked for support for retaining the policy as currently practiced; Lonnie moved in favor, Alan seconded, and the chair recorded the body's support for the policy as written.

Cliff asked commissioners to back staff enforcement: “I don't like to do it, but I just appreciate y'all support and backing me on this.” The commission said it would consider further changes only if the matter was brought to the full commission for more discussion.

Next steps: staff will keep enforcing the current residential-only rule, continue to direct commercial haulers to rent roll-offs or use the Smith County landfill, and ensure rental/fee information is available to the public.