Abstract:
Today, waste disposal and generation are notorious concerns for the world. This
concern is being worsened by the declining recycling market. As a civilized community,
improper waste disposal can be dangerous to the health of the citizens, but people do not
want to know how waste is disposed after they place it in the trash bin. Rutherford
County in Tennessee has a unique waste situation. Two landfills are located near its
center providing the entire County with free waste disposal since 1995. Within the next
ten years, both landfills will have closed, and Rutherford County residents will begin to
pay for waste disposal. This paper analyzes the effect of waste disposal on Rutherford
County’s triple bottom line (environmental, social, and economic). Going forward,
Rutherford County needs to build an Integrated Solid Waste Plan and set strategic goals
that gain the community’s approval and limit environmental impact.
