We collect, organize, and publish public records about landfill operations across Tennessee. Our goal is transparency: every citizen deserves to know what waste is being buried in their community and who is responsible.
A chaptered walkthrough of the Class I landfill expansion in Loudon County — the permit application, the July and August inspections, and the records vacuum left by the chair's resignation. Every claim is sourced.
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Every claim below is sourced from official documents. Click citations to view the original records. Claims marked with a warning tag need additional documentation.
The 2022 Second Amended Operating Agreement between Loudon County and Republic Services grants the operator significant discretion over expansion decisions, while the county retains property ownership with limited operational oversight provisions.
Contract ReviewCountywide availability of annual recycling diversion data has not been established by this review. The linked engineering report is a source lead, not proof that data are absent from all public records. Obtain county and regional reports before drawing a compliance conclusion.
Transparency GapA formal Notice of Violation was issued to Republic Services on January 16, 2025. Republic responded on January 31, 2025. The specific violations and corrective actions are documented in the public record.
Enforcement ActionTwo separate expansions. The November 2024 hearing added 7.0 acres, taking the permitted disposal area from 40.6 to 47.6 acres. The application now on file adds a further 19.6 acres on the north side — on ground the applicant's own map marks with streams. The permit file (SNL530000203) is open for public inspection at TDEC's Nashville office.
Permit ActivityTDEC conducted Class I inspections on June 9, July 21, and July 29, 2025. Inspection reports detail compliance status with permit conditions. These reports are public records available upon request.
Regulatory OversightStatus: Under Investigation. Obtain the operating agreement, permit file and monthly tonnage/origin records to establish which jurisdictions supply waste and on what terms. This site has not established the completeness of available public records; unknown volumes are not proof that records do not exist.
Data Gap — Research NeededKey events sourced from official records. Dates are as stated in the documents.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission entered into an operating agreement with Santek Environmental Services for the Matlock Bend Landfill.
Third amendment to the original operating agreement, modifying terms between Loudon County and Santek Environmental Services.
Current operating agreement between Loudon County and Republic Services (successor to Santek). Governs current operations and expansion procedures.
Summary of proposed amendments to the operating agreement under consideration at that time.
Public hearing held regarding the proposed landfill expansion. Presentation materials filed with the record.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission workshop packet. Materials distributed for the January 2025 workshop.
Formal Notice of Violation issued to Republic Services. Republic filed a response on January 31, 2025.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission workshop packet and supplemental materials for the March 2025 meeting.
Initial Class I inspection conducted by TDEC Division of Solid Waste Management for Permit SNL530000203.
Follow-up Class I inspection conducted. Report documents compliance status with permit conditions.
Construction inspection for permit compliance. Report filed with TDEC.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission meeting packet for March 2026.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission meeting packet for April 2026.
Loudon County Solid Waste Disposal Commission meeting packet for May 2026. Most recent public meeting materials on file.
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Part One horizontal expansion permit application for submission to TDEC. Part One identifies expansion property limits, buffers, and regional location; it does not include geotechnical or hydrogeologic studies, which follow in Part Two. The borrow pit plan was also presented, with roughly 19.7 acres of influenced area requiring stormwater management, and Republic committed to maintaining the borrow pit property in perpetuity. The most recent TDEC inspection at that point was characterized as clean with no violations.
Republic reported two Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the most recent TDEC inspector report: exposed waste and failure to adhere to final cover requirements. TDEC gave the Commission and Republic 30 days to clear the AOCs and required a directive plan. Republic stated the landfill’s permit assumes soil availability that is not on hand, and that it was hauling roughly 400 to 600 cubic yards of soil per week to compensate. The Commission approved the borrow pit plan unanimously and took up the survey of the 7-acre and 15,000-square-foot parcels.
The August agenda carried the AOC directive plan for exposed waste and final cover, the horizontal expansion permit submission status, and the property surplus declaration and realtor RFQ. Public comment raised groundwater near residential wells, an outstanding public records request, and vulture control. Approved minutes for this meeting had not been published by the county as of September 18, 2026; the linked packet is the primary record currently available.
Republic reported that Part One of the horizontal expansion permit has been submitted, with geotechnical investigation ongoing and expected to continue into early 2027 and water quality work to follow. The TDEC inspector was on site in both July and August and issued Areas of Concern for exposed waste and east-slope flagging tied to soil availability. TDEC asked that the permit holder — Loudon County, through the Commission — formally acknowledge the condition, since the County holds the permit even though Republic operates the site. The groundwater monitoring report was submitted August 14, 2026. The vulture control contract was reported ineffective and will not continue. A $6,800 legal fee payment was approved unanimously. Ms. Coffey’s public records request has been outstanding more than 60 days.
The meeting opened with the announcement that notice had been received the previous day, September 16, 2026, that Adam Waller had resigned from the Solid Waste Disposal Commission. Waller held two roles at once: chair of the Commission and the person in charge of its public records. Commissioner Ross was nominated and elected chair the same night, on a motion by Gary and a second by Tyler, with Ross abstaining and no votes recorded in opposition. Vice chair, secretary, and a replacement public records officer were all left unfilled, with the incoming chair stating she wanted to define the records role before asking anyone to take it. During public comment a citizen asserted the chair election was roughly five months overdue, saying the Commission’s own procedures and policy called for it in April and that the February through May minutes contain no mention of an election; the chair acknowledged the point and committed to keeping to the calendar going forward. This site reports only what the recording establishes: the resignation stated at this meeting is from the Solid Waste Disposal Commission. Whether it affects any other office he holds is not established by this record and is not claimed here.
All documents obtained through public records requests or downloaded from official government websites. Last updated: September 18, 2026.
Loudon County and Republic Services
Issued to Republic Services
Official response filed January 31, 2025
November 21, 2024 expansion hearing
Permit SNL530000203 compliance review
Construction compliance inspection
Matlock Bend Landfill
Santek Environmental Services
Amendment to original operating agreement
Summary of proposed contract amendments
Meeting materials and agenda
Meeting materials and agenda
Supplemental materials for March workshop
Meeting packet and materials
Meeting packet and materials
Most recent meeting packet on file
Permit SNL530000203 initial Class I inspection
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Dates are subject to change. Verify with the hosting body before attending.
Historically the third Thursday at 6:00 PM, Loudon County Annex Building. The September 17, 2026 packet did not state the next meeting date, so October has not been confirmed. Verify on the county events calendar before attending.
Part One of the horizontal expansion application was submitted in 2026; Part Two geotechnical and water-quality work continues into 2027. We have not been able to confirm an open public comment period. Call TDEC Solid Waste Management at (615) 532-0780 to check current status.
Monthly meetings, typically first Monday. Agendas posted at loudoncounty-tn.gov.
Generate a request under T.C.A. § 10-7-503. Copy, customize with your details, and send to the records custodian.
UNSENT TENNESSEE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST DRAFT
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Date: [Date]
To: Records Custodian
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Dear Records Custodian,
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503 et seq.), I request access to and copies of the following records:
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I request these records in electronic format (PDF) if available. Please inform me of any fees before processing.
If you deny any portion of this request, please identify the applicable exemption and provide a written explanation. This is draft request language, not a verified statement of current legal requirements.
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Contact information for officials representing Loudon County. Verify current assignments at wapp.capitol.tn.gov.
TDEC Division of Solid Waste Management
Permit No. SNL530000203 | (615) 532-0780 | tn.gov/environment
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