[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6217354,"mediaKeyId","3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe","parentId",3646239,"title","Rutherford committee hears pitch for Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act, votes to send county letter of support","audioSeconds",2527,"startMs",114000,"endMs",2641000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe&start=114&end=2641","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe/thumbnail_114000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217354/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Rutherford-committee-hears-pitch-for-Tennessee-Waste-to-Jobs-Act-votes-to-send-county-letter-of-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217354-c022808a081ac2d684ec35cea4c81ec5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770739950&Signature=B1HN3lZSrdyu7JxqkyxYOITQGDcwVs1pieH64DcwM6Dj2lwckawR03Um3zgjno48MW3oo37C6B4g-5eQBY34fZ~IC3z599MVosiNDT-auAJqyAdWRniE95Pv8WcOWe7txGQH~YVedc1KKAArUii0fYv7QxdBxK8ZWREdfs61nMoQkA4Xya6WWj61-KKrafARSWdowwd8YB513LyRnNm6rQSm0SwkPiqM63dg1r647db85GDr2k6eccjdUceRDYqsgki4VEuHoa8SldzQ~IpafpFsyiCRuM8ffQhMTc-5XIedGtP5uqwY6ep2s~XIJa-D2LthCqapDtiMHbbvwhXOUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutherford County, TN","date","2025-06-04T01:11:55Z","article","Sen. Bridal Campbell presented the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act (Senate Bill 269) to the Rutherford County Public Works and Planning Committee on June 3, urging local officials to support a producer-funded recycling infrastructure program for Tennessee.

The proposal, presented with industry partners and a short video, would create a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to collect fees from manufacturers and use those funds for recycling collection, processing and education. Campbell and presenters said the proposal is permissive for smaller counties and would direct producer dollars to a statewide needs assessment and then to infrastructure investments.

Why it matters: supporters told the committee the program would boost local recycling markets, reduce the amount of material sent to landfills and generate funds for infrastructure without using local tax dollars. Committee members repeatedly asked how Rutherford County’s collection and processing would tie into the PRO’s plan and whether local government would be required to participate.

What presenters said: Senator Bridal Campbell framed the bill as a statewide mechanism to fund recycling infrastructure and education and described industry partners that say they can use more recycled glass, aluminum and plastics. Gary Cohen of Senator Campbell’s office, a longtime packaging-industry professional who said he volunteers as an executive director for the effort, described how producer responsibility programs have operated in other jurisdictions and the effects of the 2019 Chinese import restrictions on U.S. recycling markets. “I’m not a politician. I’m, nobody from government. I’m not a lobbyist,” Cohen said while explaining his industry background and support for extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Key details raised in the meeting:
- The legislation is identified in the presentation as Senate Bill 269 (SB 269) and was described as rolled over from the prior session and to be reintroduced.
- Supporters estimated the program could bring roughly $300,000,000 a year from producers to pay for recycling infrastructure; they told the committee Tennessee’s infrastructure needs could be in the $300 million–$350 million range. Those estimates were presented by speakers and attributed to modeling from other states and producer proposals.
- The bill was described as permissive for smaller jurisdictions: counties with population under 200,000 would be allowed to opt in rather than be required to participate; major cities would be expected to take part initially.
- The PRO would first complete a needs assessment (MRFs, transfer stations, equipment gaps such as optical sorters) and then fund investments. Optical sorters were cited as an example of expensive equipment (presenters said roughly $1 million apiece in the presentation).
- Supporters named private-sector and industry stakeholders described in the presentation, including recycling processors and end users in Tennessee’s aluminum, glass, tile and plastics industries; they said several major consumer goods companies are backing EPR nationally.
- Opposition noted in the presentation and during Q&A centers on beverage bottlers and business groups (the Tennessee Chamber was cited) that historically have resisted similar measures; presenters said part of their outreach is to build additional corporate and municipal buy‑in.

Committee action: After the presentation and a period of questions about local implementation and markets, Commissioner [name not specified in transcript] moved to have county staff prepare a letter of support for SB 269 and asked that the county attorney draft the letter before it is forwarded to the full county commission and state delegation. The committee chair called for the vote; members voted in favor and the motion carried. The committee recorded that the county attorney would prepare language for the letter and that the letter would be transmitted to the county commission and the delegation.

Local context from county staff: Bishop Wagner, Rutherford County solid-waste director, said the program could help the county by funding end markets and infrastructure and by supporting diversion of organics; Wagner said local facilities already accept glass and that increased end markets would reduce hauling and tipping costs. Wagner also told the committee that Rutherford’s existing materials‑recovery facility (MRF) has capacity to accept more material.

Outstanding questions and limits noted in the meeting: Presenters and commissioners agreed several matters would be resolved in the PRO’s plan rather than in the bill text — for example, whether procurement and vendor selection would be statewide or organized at county level, how RFPs would be issued, and how the PRO would work with municipal and private collection systems. Supporters described that as deliberate: the bill creates the PRO and oversight; the PRO and TDEC would develop operational detail through the needs assessment and plan.

What comes next: Committee members directed staff to have the county attorney draft the letter of support for review and transmission to the full commission and state legislators. Senator Bridal Campbell said supporters would continue to build local grassroots and municipal resolutions to demonstrate broad support as the bill is reintroduced.

Ending: The committee’s action means the Public Works and Planning Committee will forward a county-prepared letter of support for SB 269. Further local participation, funding allocations and operational details were left to the PRO planning process and to subsequent county and municipal decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Works Committee - June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Bridal Campbell presented the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act (SB 269) to the Rutherford County Public Works and Planning Committee and, after questions about local implementation, the committee voted to request a county attorney–drafted letter of support to be forwarded to the full commission and the county’s state legislators.","taxTitle","Rutherford County, Tennessee","taxId",4625,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217344,"Solid Waste Director reports diversion gains, limits mattress drop-offs and backs county support for producer-funded recycling",529,3689000,4218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe&start=3689&end=4218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe/thumbnail_3689000.jpg","/articles/6217344/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Solid-Waste-Director-reports-diversion-gains-limits-mattress-drop-offs-and-backs-county-support-for-producer-funded-recycling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217344-86c7d76226ec6b38ed6e4ac820a87045/orig.mp4?Expires=1770739950&Signature=Zr6S6ETxOS7504KrgIMgnXQEwuZsj-ZCtGvzUw0l17qKeEdpavJQVb4ecGXkb6EAG0Rg1xi0HIRphHRtPIBnL4I75oJcEZ8WYXw8g2owy5ZEliruOgN2O7wzeBYt9Fm-sLBE2Yw0I4yD29lvBYlgwO3pSvmknXaLyBbIuQUPEpRgYuSyr-S3FNgV8esMy-QZ~Tk0RESLvQHlfF5sIMW0wrRz5B2CcDhpQ~Rp-CL6iPNDY2h7403e3mUVdCi6uxIfcNcLOewycQqI~3Fi0bF~-TJnMHKWh37b-1tXkrtOl00DS4rpNj9S9dsrr5d8Su9o0YjDIqTPcIQkyfBJhhoboQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bishop Wagner, Rutherford County solid-waste director, updated the Public Works and Planning Committee on May operations, imposed a temporary limit on mattress drop‑offs at convenience centers and said the department supports the committee’s decision to request a letter of support for SB 269.

The most newsworthy operations detail: county convenience centers will accept no more than one mattress and one box spring per person per day. Wagner said staff have been receiving unusually large volumes of mattresses — in some cases multiple mattress loads arriving at once — and the limit is intended to ensure equitable residential disposal and manageable processing at the convenience centers.

Program and performance figures Wagner reported for May:
- Total waste managed by Rutherford County Solid Waste: 4,019.35 tons (all sources).
- Tons from county convenience centers: 2,703.94.
- School-generated waste reported: 807.8 tons.
- Recycled/diverted tonnage: 507.61 tons.
- Residential diversion rate for May: 12.63%.
- Landfill‐scale revenue and other small-line items were reported (e.g., brush and tire receipts) in the monthly operations summary.

Wagner said the county’s MRF has capacity and that expanded end markets and infrastructure funded through producer responsibility would likely help the county reduce hauling and tipping costs. He described organics (food and yard waste) as a third or more of the waste stream and said additional infrastructure and end markets for compost and topsoil would benefit local operations and developers.

Transfer station ribbon cutting: Wagner confirmed the county’s new transfer station will open July 1 and invited commissioners to the public ceremony. He also reported an on‑the‑job medical incident involving an employee who was transported to hospital and asked for the committee’s thoughts and prayers; he said the employee was conscious when he spoke with them.

Committee action: The committee took a motion and second to approve the solid-waste report as presented; the report passed on a voice vote.

Ending: The department’s operational changes (mattress drop‑off limit) and the July 1 opening of the transfer station are immediate, local operational items. Wagner expressed support for the committee’s motion to send a letter backing SB 269, saying producer funds could help build end markets and infrastructure the county needs.","Solid Waste Director Bishop Wagner reported May recycling/diversion totals, described a new limit on mattress disposals at convenience centers, confirmed a July 1 transfer-station opening, and told the committee he supports the county’s motion to send a letter backing the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act (SB 269).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217349,"Planning director outlines four rezoning proposals; committee approves planning report",712,2739000,3451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe&start=2739&end=3451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646239-d028e83b7fd08d3a5743c639b1b7efbe/thumbnail_2739000.jpg","/articles/6217349/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Planning-director-outlines-four-rezoning-proposals-committee-approves-planning-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217349-b43cc967da730c71a742ec606bb10c7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770739950&Signature=EYI6Z4R9PV0mymeDShQwOhwuzgCoOFGTZ9uK2TmhTl~xMk6HMOSRiXsZDtNROEHW83ZsYbjIdPZKWlqFC6WvZR2VS1QxtUH0FIEoxTV0DFzPi-cdKe9xAhZgpcKMNeTKMnNvPrqYvm8uVa1kl6qLiu8xw-niUhOpIlJaIy2NqGi-a8IxFaasusphcjOwy~5pmTyPv5~BhThcT0Jox~3x7CqL2n2KXuE4KCtQpSiocwSBPf96qadHg-Tfy17BVlSPpB7rpMVE2zwLpP0afYisttH7LbYj4g7j7xgXa6cuoh-GQB7iBjg7YQRHnHuE-8aFX8qFUWEHo5AtSNYs5sKDMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doug DeMasi, Rutherford County planning and engineering director, briefed the Public Works and Planning Committee on four rezoning applications that the planning commission forwarded for consideration at the board of commissioners meeting next week.

Why it matters: each rezoning could change land use and traffic patterns in its neighborhood and will require subsequent site plans, buffering and, where applicable, traffic studies. The committee approved the planning report and agreed staff will provide the required materials to the county commission.

Summary of applications presented:
- Swanson Development (Elam Road): A roughly 10-acre request to rezone from Residential Medium (RM) to Employment and Activity Center (EAC). The applicant included a nonbinding concept plan showing three buildings (about 70,000 square feet total) with flex space and warehouse uses. No traffic study had been submitted; staff said one could be required at site-plan review. The planning commission unanimously recommended approval after discussing a previously relocated cemetery on the site; county archival research indicated graves were moved to Evergreen Cemetery after 1975 and are not currently on site.

- Hollingshead Development (Hickory Grove Road): Applicant seeks rezoning from RM to Light Industrial to accommodate parking and storage for building materials on roughly 4.5–5 acres. Planning staff noted the site was already developed without permits; the planning commission recommended approval but raised concerns about the property’s prior unpermitted work and stressed that an engineered site plan and performance‑standards review would be required prior to final approval.

- Matt Hamilton / Reagan Smith (4610 Sulphur Springs Road): About 10 acres proposed for rezoning from RM to Commercial Services for a mini‑warehouse development (applicant’s concept shows 302 units and a fenced, gated facility). DeMasi noted a mini‑warehouse use in Commercial Services requires a special‑exception approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals even if zoning is changed. The planning commission recommended approval; staff said a traffic study and careful drainage review will likely be required because the site is in a drainage‑sensitive area with sinkholes.

- Swanson Development LP (Manchester Pike, ~105 acres): Applicant seeks to rezone approximately 92 acres to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and about 12.5 acres to Commercial General, envisioning multiple warehouse/distribution buildings. The concept plan shows roughly 644,000 square feet across up to nine buildings (applicant stated total building area would not exceed 700,000 square feet). A traffic study submitted by the applicant recommended turn lanes and a new traffic signal at the principal entrance; planning commission approval included a condition flipping roll-up doors on the northernmost building to reduce noise impacts on adjacent residences. The planning commission recommended approval with some commissioners dissenting.

Committee action: After the presentation, Commissioner [name not specified in transcript] moved and the committee voted to approve the planning report for transmission to the county commission. Planning staff told the committee that engineered site plans, buffering, performance standards and traffic studies would be required at later stages as applicable.

Ending: Each rezoning request will appear on the board of commissioners agenda; site-plan and special-exception reviews, where required, will follow the zoning decisions.","Rutherford County Planning Director Doug DeMasi presented four rezoning applications the planning commission recommended for consideration at the county commission meeting. The committee approved the planning report and staff will forward materials to the board of commissioners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rutherford committee hears pitch for Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act, votes to send county letter of support

Solid Waste Director reports diversion gains, limits mattress drop-offs and backs county support for producer-funded recycling

Planning director outlines four rezoning proposals; committee approves planning report