Tennessee is taking a step toward sustainability and economic growth with the introduction of the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act, sponsored by Senator Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville. This legislation, also called the TWRRA, would establish a statewide producer responsibility organization 鈥� funded by corporations, not taxpayers 鈥� to strengthen recycling programs and expand access to service across the state. Increased recycling will cut landfill costs for local taxpayers, reduce the need to build new landfills, create jobs and provide local manufacturers a source of raw material for production, Senator Campbell says.
“Tennessee is at a crossroads,” said Senator Campbell. “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. 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 in to the program.”
Under the legislation, the producers who create product packaging will join a statewide Producer Responsibility Organization or PRO, which will work with local governments to manage and fund recycling programs using an innovative Extended Producer Responsibility model. Producers will finance recycling services based on the type and volume of packaging they produce, freeing local governments from bearing these costs.