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

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…