For immediate release March 21, 2006

ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION ISSUES PERMIT DECISION REGARDING EXPANSION OF BFI MIDDLEPOINT LANDFILL IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY

Nashville, Tenn.- The Department of Environment and Conservation announced today that the request by BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee to expand Middlepoint Landfill in Rutherford County has been approved. The department's Division of Solid Waste Management determined that BFI Waste Systems has met the criteria outlined in Tennessee Public Chapter 1200-1-7 for permitting of solid waste storage, processing and disposal.

The department held a public hearing on the proposed draft permit on January 5, 2006. The public comment period, which extended through February 2, 2006, allowed the opportunity for additional comments addressing the technical merits of the request for expansion to be submitted.

The law directs the department to determine whether a permit application meets the requirements of the regulations for environmental protection and to act accordingly. If the permit application meets the requirements of the regulations, the department is directed to approve the permit. The expansion application for Middlepoint landfill has been determined to meet those criteria.

The permit includes a number of conditions that are detailed in the permit, which may be viewed at: www.tdec.net/swm/ppo/BFIMiddlepointFinalPermit.pdf. Also posted on the Department of Environment and Conservation's Web site are responses to comments received during the public comment period at: www.tdec.net/swm/ppo/BFIMiddlepointPublicResponse.pdf. Copies of the responses will be mailed directly to those who submitted public comments or requested to receive a copy.

"State law requires us to assure that landfills are properly designed and operated in a manner that will protect the citizens and environment of our state," said Mike Apple, director of the Division of Solid Waste Management. "We have a design and operational plan that meets state law and will provide for the safe disposal of waste from Rutherford and several other counties. We have also placed permit conditions on this site that will assure the compliance of this site with the regulations."

For more information on the Division of Solid Waste Management, please visit: www.tdec.net/swm.

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For more information contact:

Dana Coleman
(615) 253-1916 Office