WOODLAWN, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – If you plan to throw away your mattress anytime soon, Bi-County Solid Waste Management has some important information for you.

If left untreated, mattresses can take over a century to break down in landfills, and Bi-County receives approximately 23,000 of them every year. Their bulkiness allows them to trap liquid trash known as “leachate,” which can harm the environment.

The leachate can also lead to inspection violations, which can involve significant amounts of time and money to resolve. Any water that touches trash as it passes through the landfill must be collected, treated, and then sent to the Waste Treatment Plant.

Bi-County has monitor wells stationed around the landfill to ensure that no contaminated water escapes. They also have gas wells to regulate the methane released from trash in the landfill.

But to help lessen the leachate problem on the front end, in 2023, Bi-County invested in a shredder that disintegrates mattresses more efficiently.

“We’ve gotten tons of mattresses over the years and wanted a way to help. And the shredder seemed like the best way,” Bi-County Executive Director Mark Neblett told Clarksville Now.  

Costs of mattress disposal

Along with the shredder comes a $10 fee for people dropping off mattresses and box springs. The fee helps cover maintenance and upkeep of the machine.

But the fee could be higher: Davidson and Williamson County charge a $20 fee for mattress and box spring disposals. They partner with Isaiah 58 Inc.’s Springback Mattress Recycling, which sets up trailers in landfills where mattresses can be repurposed. The company reached out to Neblett, hoping to set up trailers here in Montgomery County. But Neblett said he has not committed because he is unsure whether the Clarksville community would want the program.  

Bi-County landfill also charges all residents a $5 monthly user fee, which supports operations since it does not receive any government funding.

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Importance of compacting trash

To run the 700-acre site safely, Bi-County has built a drainage system protected by plastic, textiles and rocks. Bedrock is strategically placed over the water stored underground, and testing for permeability is done. The landfill also runs five compactors that can handle up to 2 feet of material at a time.

“Compaction is really important,” Neblett said. Having worked at the landfill for more than 30 years, he said filling the compactor past 2 feet prevents proper compression. These operations are tough on the machines, so they must be regularly taken apart and welded for days before being used again.  

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Neblett said, “I care about this place, and I want things to go well. I care about the community.”

For more 

Bi-County Landfill is located at 3212 Dover Road, Woodlawn, TN 37191. They can be reached by email at mobileBICY@mcgtn.net or by phone at 931-648-5751. For more, go to the Bi-County Landfill website.

Bi-County will be hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be held at the Veterans Plaza parking lot behind the library. Participants must enter the parking lot from Crossland Avenue and follow along the outside edge of the lot.

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