TN lawmaker to propose bill aimed at reducing waste, adding jobs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) is preparing to introduce a bill that she believes could remove the need for more landfills while creating jobs and providing raw materials for the state’s manufacturers.

Sen. Campbell announced she will be filing the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act which will call on the state’s packaging producers to join a statewide Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). These companies “will finance recycling services based on the type and volume of packaging they produce, freeing local governments from bearing these costs,” according to the announcement.

The bill aims to bolster recycling programs which, in time, should cut landfill costs for taxpayers by reducing the need to build new ones, according to Sen. Campbell. Additionally, she hopes this will also create new jobs and provide more raw materials for local businesses.

“Tennessee is at a crossroads. We can continue to watch our landfills overflow and our resources go to waste, or we can lead the Southeast in building a robust recycling economy that works for our families, businesses, and future,” said Sen. Campbell. “The Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act creates over 7,700 jobs, brings $300 million annually into our state, and ensures local governments save millions while providing access to recycling for every community that opts into the program.”

Sen. Campbell outlined the key benefits of her proposed legislation:

• Job Creation: more than 7,700 new, good-paying jobs
• Cost Savings: Reduce waste expenses by covering 100 percent of packaging recycling costs
• Source of Materials: Provide manufacturers access to materials
• Economic Boost: Bring an estimated $300 million annually into Tennessee
• Environmental Impact: Reduces landfill waste, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and increases recycling rates by 355 percent

Sen. Campbell has been working with Reimagine Packaging in recent months to establish sustainable and responsible waste management in Tennessee. The group called the new legislation “transformative.”

“Tennessee is losing millions of dollars every year by throwing away valuable materials that could be recycled and reused,” Campbell added. “This bill changes that by turning waste into raw materials that our industries need while protecting our natural environment for generations to come. This really is a triple-win opportunity for Tennessee businesses, residents, and for our environment.”

In all, Sen. Campbell reports her legislation, if passed, would generate $300 million for recycling, add 7,700 jobs, and repurpose 950,000 tons of waste bound for landfills.

The bill has yet to be officially filed for the 114th General Assembly, which convenes on January 14, 2025.

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