Trashy Problem in Lake County, Tennessee

Trashy Problem in Lake County, Tennessee

To dump or not to dump, that is the question. If you were suddenly faced with the problem of not having anywhere to dump your household garbage, what would you do? Would you drive several miles away to the city, or perhaps into another county? Would you pay someone to dispose of it for you? Maybe set up a 55 gallon drum and burn it in your backyard? Or would you drive down a backroad and throw it out when no one is looking?

I recently received an e-mail from a Lake County, TN resident, that was seeking information on garbage laws for her area. She described a terrible situation that residents in her area are facing.
Below is a quote from her letter:

"I live in extreme Northwest Tennessee in Lake County. I live outside the city limits, so we have no trash pickup. Everyone (and there's quite a bit) who live in my area take their trash to an incinerator. This is they way it's done in both towns in the county. Now, the county mayor has decided he doesn't want to pay for that anymore. Our county government is in a gridlock over this, but if it passes, that leaves people outside the city limits WITH NO PLACE TO TAKE THEIR GARBAGE. There USED to be public trash bins scattered all over the town, but those were removed several years ago, and only exist for businesses, My question is...is there some sort of law against this in Tennessee that you know of ?"

After doing some research, I have found the following:

Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act:

Document 1 of 1 Source: Tennessee Code/TITLE 68 HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION /CHAPTER 211 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL /PART 1 SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ACT /68-211-102. Public policy. 68-211-102. Public policy.

(a) In order to protect the public health, safety and welfare, prevent the spread of disease and creation of nuisances, conserve our natural resources, enhance the beauty and quality of our environment and provide a coordinated statewide solid waste disposal program, it is declared to be the public policy of the state of Tennessee to regulate solid waste disposal to:

(1) Provide for safe and sanitary processing and disposal of solid wastes;

(2) Develop long-range plans for adequate solid waste disposal systems to meet future demands;

(3) Provide a coordinated statewide program of control of solid waste processing and disposal in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies responsible for the prevention, control, or abatement of air, water, and land pollution; and

(4) Encourage efficient and economical solid waste disposal systems.

(b) The general assembly declares that it is the policy of this state to ensure that no hazardous waste, as regulated under chapter 212 of this title, is disposed of in a solid waste disposal facility. Therefore, subject to the appropriation of funds in the general appropriations act for such purposes, the department shall develop an inspection program for all permitted facilities, including landfills and processing facilities, that provides for frequent, thorough and regular inspections. Further, subject to the appropriation of funds in the general appropriations act for such purposes, the department shall inspect waste streams, baled waste and special waste generators and transporters to prevent the introduction of hazardous waste into solid waste disposal facilities.

[Acts 1969, ch. 295, § 2; T.C.A., § 53-4302; Acts 1991, ch. 451, § 5; T.C.A., § 68-31-102.]

I'm not a lawyer or even close to being a lawyer, but reading that sure sounds like the state should hold some kind of responsibility in issues such as the ones they are facing in Lake Co.

The Lake County Banner also had an article in the paper this morning concerning this issue.

Does anyone have anything they could add?