Environment (Recycling) in Tennessee

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2730: Grundy County - Subject to local approval, creates the Southern Cumberland Plateau Regional Water and Wastewater Authority. -

This bill creates the Southern Cumberland Plateau Regional Water and Wastewater Authority, a new public entity designed to manage water and wastewater systems in Grundy County and surrounding areas. The Authority will have the power to plan, build, operate, and maintain facilities for water supply, sewage treatment, and recycling, while also selling water and providing environmental services. Governance of the Authority is structured to include representatives from Grundy County, the towns of Monteagle and Tracy City, and two specific utility districts, ensuring local input on decisions. The legislation allows the Authority to issue bonds to fund these projects and includes provisions for adding new member municipalities in the future.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2667: Grundy County - Subject to local approval, creates the Southern Cumberland Plateau Regional Water and Wastewater Authority. -

This bill establishes the Southern Cumberland Plateau Regional Water and Wastewater Authority, a permanent public corporation designed to manage water and wastewater systems for Grundy County and the towns of Monteagle and Tracy City. The new entity will have the power to plan, build, operate, and maintain facilities for water supply, sewage treatment, and recycling, while also providing environmental services to the region. Governance is structured through a five-member board where each of the participating jurisdictions appoints one representative to ensure shared oversight. The Authority is authorized to issue bonds and other financial obligations to fund its projects, with specific rules for filling vacancies on the board to maintain balanced representation.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2552: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 62, Chapter 9 and Title 68.

SB 2552, the Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act, regulates how secondary aluminum waste (like smelting byproducts and recycling dust) must be disposed of in landfills. It prohibits commingling this waste with municipal trash and requires dedicated landfill units (such as separate cells or monofills) for its disposal. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation must create rules for permitting these units, including standards for liners, groundwater protection, and monitoring. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, affecting landfill operators and secondary aluminum smelting facilities.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2133: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 62, Chapter 9 and Title 68.

HB 2133 creates the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act" to regulate disposal of aluminum recycling byproducts. It directly affects landfill operators and aluminum recycling facilities by prohibiting mixing secondary aluminum waste (like dross or furnace dust) with regular trash and requiring dedicated landfill units for this waste. The law mandates new rules for landfill permits, liner design, and environmental protection, with the Department of Environment and Conservation developing these standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all such waste disposal after that date.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 600: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," which requires producers of goods to participate in a responsibility organization for recycling, reuse, and composting of certain packaging material. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

HB 600, the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," requires companies that produce packaging materials to join a new organization responsible for funding recycling, reuse, and composting systems for covered packaging. It directly affects packaging producers (like those making food containers or product wrappers), mandating they help finance local recycling infrastructure instead of relying solely on government programs. The bill covers most packaging types but excludes medical products, beverage containers under future deposit systems, and long-term storage packaging. Its key goal is to divert recyclable waste from landfills, create jobs in recycling, and recover materials that would otherwise be discarded.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 667: Solid Waste Disposal - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste; authorizes the department of environment and conservation to accept voluntary contributions, and to apply for grants, from private companies for grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 11; Title 13; Title 20; Title 28; Title 39; Title 49; Title 54; Title 55; Title 59; Title 62; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

HB 667 creates a state advisory task force to examine solid waste management issues and authorizes Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to accept private company donations and apply for grants for recycling infrastructure, projects, and composting. The bill requires the department to publish its findings online and amends multiple environmental codes to support these provisions. It directly affects the state department, private waste management companies, and communities managing recycling efforts. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after becoming Public Chapter 429.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1246: Energy - As introduced, enacts the "Clean Energy and Jobs Act"; creates the Clean Energy Workforce Training Grant Fund; establishes a tax credit for certain systems, methods, improvements, structures, devices, or appliances used by renewable energy businesses, and small businesses to implement or improve the business's sustainable practices. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5 and Title 67.

SB 1246, the "Clean Energy and Jobs Act," creates two key programs to support clean energy growth in Tennessee. It establishes the Clean Energy Workforce Training Fund to provide grants for job training in clean energy fields (like solar or wind), administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation. The bill also creates a 30% tax credit for renewable energy businesses (e.g., solar installers) and small businesses (50 or fewer employees) to offset sales/use tax paid on qualifying systems, devices, or sustainable practices - such as eco-friendly materials or recycling equipment. These provisions directly affect renewable energy companies and small businesses seeking to adopt greener operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Credits Renewable Energy Solar Conservation Recycling Workforce Development

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 574: Taxes, Privilege - As introduced, reduces the rate of tax on bottled soft drinks and barrels of beer; changes the distribution of the revenue from such taxes; provides for the eventual repeal of such taxes. - Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 5 and Title 67, Chapter 4.

SB 574 reduces the tax on beer from $4.29 to $2.00 per barrel and modifies how revenue from soft drink taxes (currently 0.9% of gross receipts) is allocated. It directs 50% of soft drink tax revenue to highway litter prevention programs and 40% to recycling grants for materials like aluminum and plastic. The bill requires annual reports on fund usage and sets a sunset provision: both taxes will end by July 1, 2028, or upon enactment of mandatory beverage container deposit laws, whichever comes first. This bill directly affects beer and soft drink manufacturers, distributors, and state agencies managing litter and recycling programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Revenue Recycling Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 438: Solid Waste Disposal - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste; authorizes the department of environment and conservation to accept voluntary contributions, and to apply for grants, from private companies for grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 11; Title 13; Title 20; Title 28; Title 39; Title 49; Title 54; Title 55; Title 59; Title 62; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 438 creates an advisory task force to examine solid waste management issues in Tennessee and authorizes the Department of Environment and Conservation to accept voluntary contributions and apply for private grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting initiatives. The bill requires the department to publish a report on its website regarding these efforts. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee law related to waste management, including provisions for grant funding and reporting. The bill became effective on May 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 521: Taxes, Privilege - As introduced, reduces the rate of tax on bottled soft drinks and barrels of beer; changes the distribution of the revenue from such taxes; provides for the eventual repeal of such taxes. - Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 5 and Title 67, Chapter 4.

HB 521 reduces the tax on beer from $4.29 to $2.00 per barrel and lowers the tax on bottled soft drinks from 1.2% to 0.9% of gross receipts. The bill redirects 50% of the beer tax revenue to highway litter prevention programs and 40% of the soft drink tax revenue to recycling grants for materials like aluminum and plastic. It requires annual reports on fund usage and sets a sunset provision: both taxes will be repealed by July 1, 2028, or upon enactment of mandatory container deposit laws. The bill directly affects beverage manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Revenue Recycling Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

All environment bills