Tennessee Senate approves bill to strengthen recycling markets, create advisory council

The Tennessee Senate on third and final consideration approved SB 17‑93, a bill sponsors say is intended to strengthen the state’s recycling marketplace and reduce reliance on landfills.

Chairman Tim Reeves (Sponsor) said the bill strengthens the Office of Cooperative Marketing for Recyclables, to be housed at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and creates a recycling market‑development and diversion advisory council made up of industry, state and local representatives and two legislative members. “This is an effort to address everything but landfills, really, in the state of Tennessee,” Reeves said, adding the measure would improve coordination, transparency and connections between recyclable supply and businesses that can use the materials.

The bill directs the office and council to study the state’s current recycling marketplace, identify opportunities to recruit recycling‑related businesses, research best practices from other states, and advise on education materials for counties and future actions to increase diversion. Senator Ken Yeager voiced support from personal experience, citing a long‑running recycling program in Roane County that now produces revenue: “That recycling program now pays for itself and generates revenue to the general fund,” Yeager said.

An amendment offered by the committee was adopted on the floor before the final vote. The clerk recorded the final tally as Ayes 31, no nays; the presiding officer declared the bill passed. The legislation requires further implementation steps at TDEC and establishes reporting and advisory duties for the new council.

The bill’s next procedural steps will be handling per Senate rules and then transmission as required for enrollment.