Stan Moses currently manages the McMinn County Landfill. The landfill, located at 391 County Road 750 in Athens, is the oldest active landfill presently operating in Tennessee. It was the third permitted landfill in the state when it was commissioned in 1971. In September 1991 McMinn County landfill became the first municipal landfill in Tennessee to be granted a class one subtitle D permit.

The day to day operations of the currently active portion of the landfill are funded on a fee basis. Each individual load of refuse is charged by weight to each individual customer. This user fee covers the associated daily expenses of the active acres of the landfill. The fee system along with efficient management of the landfill prevents the need for additional local taxes to fund daily operations. Low per-weight fees make the use of the McMinn County landfill a good decision for local industries

Local taxes help subsidize the maintenance and upkeep of portions of the landfill that have been previously used and are now closed. These taxes are also set aside for the eventual maintenance of the active portion of the landfill when it is closed at the end of its expected twenty five year useful life. The wise management of these funds allows the McMinn County landfill to purchase and prepare additional acreage, when need arises, without the raising of additional tax monies.

The landfill contains an area of sixty-seven acres with an expected useful life of twenty plus years. Eight ground water monitoring wells are sampled for contaminants on a quarterly and semi-annual basis. Discharge from three storm water settlement basins is sampled on a semi-annual basis also. Air pollution concerns are addressed on an as needed basis. The continuous monitoring of pollutants and attention to detail at the McMinn County landfill help ensure that the site remains an asset to the community and the environment.

The McMinn County Landfill also houses recycling facilities for a variety of common recyclables. The recycling facility is easily accessed and free to the public.

McMinn County Landfill is approximately three hundred twenty total acres.  Sixty seven acres is currently being used to take care of McMinn County's waste.  Sixty six acres are used landfill area that is now closed and can not be used for landfill again. The remainder is presently not being used. 

Landfill Hours:

7:30am - 4:00pm Mon-Fri
8:00am - 4:00 Sat
Closed Sundays and Holidays

The landfill can not accept the following for disposal:

• Liquids (paints, solvent, chemicals of all types that 7are in a liquid state)
• Asbestos, large logs, stumps or large items of construction debris
• Radioactive or explosive materials
• Medical wastes, tanks (propane or cylinders with regulators in place)


All animal remains need to be in the landfill by 2:00 p.m.



Convenience Center Hours:

7:30am - 6:00pm Mon-Fri
8:00am - 6:00pm Sat
1:00am - 6:00pm Sun
Closed Holidays



Recycling Center Hours:

7:30am - 6:00pm Mon-Fri
8:00am - 6:00pm Sat
1:00am - 6:00pm Sun
Closed Holidays

Products Accepted at the recycling center:


Cardboard Mixed Paper/Newsprint Plastics Scrap Metals*

Used Oil Aluminum Cans Lead Acid Batteries

Tire Storage Area is available to all retailers, farmers, citizens for tire disposal at no charge.

*Freon, cooling lines and compressors must be removed from air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators, before we can accept them for disposal or recycling.