Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
.. ·····
:: E\IHf~I::
State f/JeMte<Ssee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1096
SENATE BILL NO. 1793
By Reeves, Bailey, Bowling, White
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2518
By Todd, Tim Hicks
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter
211, relative to recycling.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-826, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
68-211-826. Office of cooperative marketing for recyclables - Duties.
(a) From funds available from the solid waste management fund established by§ 68-
211-821, the department shall establish an office of cooperative marketing for recyclables.
(b) The duties of the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables include:
(1) Preparing and maintaining a directory of regional buyers, which may
include current information on product specifications, markets, and price ranges;
(2) Preparing and maintaining a directory of public, private, for-profit, and
nonprofit recycling programs;
(3) Collecting voluntary information on the quantity and quality of materials
offered for sale by recycling programs;
(4) Creating a database for and operating an interactive information
clearinghouse and marketing service, which may include market range pricing
information;
(5) Maintaining an inventory of available quantities, qualities, and locations of
recyclable materials in this state;
(6) Actively marketing sites identified for purposes of subdivision (b)(5) to
industries that can utilize available materials in order to drive economic development
in the recyclables marketplace;
(7) Supporting voluntary regionalization efforts among counties, municipalities,
solid waste planning regions, and other entities in the development and
implementation of recycling programs and recyclable materials market development;
(8) Identifying areas of collaboration with relevant state agencies, including the
department of economic and community development, to support economic
development in the recycling industry; and
(9) Coordinating with the recycling market development and diversion advisory
council, established by§ 68-211-827, on the development and marketing strategy of
the statewide recyclables marketplace.
SB 1793
(c) This section does not expand or modify the department's regulatory, tax, or fee
authority.
(d) All proprietary, confidential, or competitively sensitive information submitted by a
private entity pursuant to this section must be treated as confidential business information
and is not subject to disclosure under title 10, chapter 7.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
68-211-827. Recycling market development and diversion advisory council.
(a) There is created the recycling market development and diversion advisory council,
referred to as the "council" in this section, which is attached to the department for
administrative purposes only.
(b) The council is advisory in nature and shall not exercise regulatory, fee, taxing, or
rulemaking authority.
(c) The council shall advise the department, the governor, and the general assembly
on matters related to the development and enhancement of markets for recyclable materials
in this state.
(d) The duties of the council include, but are not limited to:
(1) Studying and assessing the current state of the recycling marketplace in
this state, including executive branch functions and private industry needs and
capabilities;
(2) Assisting the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables, created by §
68-211-826, and the department's division of stakeholder engagement, office of
sustainable practices, small business environmental assistance program, and
materials management program in enhancing and expanding markets for recyclable
materials in this state;
(3) Advising the department on recycling best practices, including innovative
technology implementation, facility designs, and implementation by counties and
municipalities;
(4) Identifying and formulating strategies to recruit, retain, or expand
businesses and industries across the recycling value chain within this state;
(5) Identifying opportunities to strengthen regionalization efforts among solid
waste planning regions or other entities for the purpose of improving recycling
access, increasing volumes of marketable recyclable materials, and supporting the
development of recycling markets within the state;
(6) Researching market needs, opportunities to scale recycling activities, best
practices from other states, and industry demand within this state and the
southeastern United States;
(7) Advising on the development of standardized educational materials for
state and local officials to implement in public awareness efforts;
(8) Developing and submitting recommendations for future actions by the
executive or legislative branch of state government; and
(9) Studying any other issues as directed by the advisory task force on solid
waste, established by § 68-211-126, and regularly reporting to the task force, as
directed by the co-chairs of the task force.
(e) The council consists of the following voting members:
(1) Five (5) representatives of private industry, appointed by the governor,
who shall represent industries that may include plastics, glass, paper, aluminum,
scrap metal, advanced recycling, other recyclable materials sectors, producers of
consumer goods, or retailers of consumer goods;
(2) Two (2) representatives of recycling-focused trade associations, appointed
by the governor;
2
SB 1793
(3) One (1) representative of a private recycling operator, appointed by the
governor;
(4) One (1) representative of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce &
Industry, appointed by the governor;
(5) One (1) representative from a conservation organization, appointed by the
governor;
(6) One (1) municipal solid waste director, appointed by the governor;
(7) One (1) county solid waste director, appointed by the governor;
(8) One (1) member of the advisory task force on solid waste, established by §
68-211-126, jointly appointed by the chair of the energy, agriculture and natural
resources committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the house of
representatives with jurisdiction over subject matters pertaining to solid waste
disposal;
(9) The commissioner of environment and conservation, or the
commissioner's designee;
(10) The commissioner of economic and community development, or the
commissioner's designee;
(11) One (1) member of the house of representatives, appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives;
(12) One (1) member of the senate, appointed by the speaker of the senate;
and
(13) The commissioner of agriculture, or the commissioner's designee.
(f)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (f)(2), members of the council who are
appointed by the governor under subdivisions (e)(1)-(7) serve terms of four (4) years.
The council member appointed under subdivision (e)(8) serves a term of four (4)
years. The council members appointed under subdivisions (e)(9)-(13) shall serve
consistent with the terms of their respective offices. A vacancy on the council must be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the
unexpired term.
(2) Of the members initially appointed by the governor:
(A) Three (3) members are appointed for initial terms of one (1) year;
(B) Three (3) members are appointed for initial terms of two (2) years;
(C) Three (3) members are appointed for initial terms of three (3)
years; and
(D) Four (4) members are appointed for initial terms of four (4) years.
(3) All subsequent gubernatorial appointments are for terms of four (4) years.
(4) Terms begin on July 1 and end on June 30. Members of the council
continue to serve on the council after the expiration of the members' terms until a new
member is appointed.
(g) Members of the council serve without compensation but are reimbursed for
necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in
accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of
finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
(h) The governor shall appoint the initial chair of the council. The initial chair shall call
the first meeting of the council. Thereafter, the council shall elect a chair from among its
membets every two (2) years.
(i) The council shall meet at least quarterly arid may meet additionally upon the call of
the chair or upon written request of a majority of members.
3
SB 1793
U) The council may establish an. executive committee or other committees as
necessary to carry out its duties.
(k) The department of environment and conservation shall provide administrative
support and staffing to the council using existing resources.
(I) The council shall submit an initial report to the governor, the chair of the senate
energy, agriculture and natural resources committee, and the chair of the committee of the
house of representatives having subject jurisdiction over solid waste disposal no later than
December 31, 2026. Thereafter, the council shall submit annual reports by December 31 of
each year.
(m) The general assembly may request additional reports from the council on specific
matters related to recycling market development.
(n) This section does not regulate solid waste disposal, expand the department's
regulatory authority, or authorize the department to impose new reporting requirements,
recycling mandates, procurement mandates, disposal restrictions, fees, or other regulatory
obligations absent separate legislative authorization.
(o) The .council is terminated on June 30, 2030, unless continued by an act of the
general assembly.
SECTION 3. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not constitute a
part of Jhe, law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is requested to
include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION.4. For the purpose of making appointments, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2026, the
public welfare requiring it.
4
SENATE BILL NO. 1793
PASSED: April 22, 2026
Re -~-t l "-4. "'4... ~~- ..._...
RANDY
- SPEAKER OF THl '
CAMERONSEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED this __:_x_J_-_.__i_,,_J_. day o f ~ 2026
~ t u .. . . . . . .
BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.