Waste Reduction Task Force

In response to newly passed legislation, the Department of Environment and Conservation is seeking advice from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee on all aspects of how Tennessee manages its solid waste disposal and waste reduction efforts.  In response, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) has convened a twenty-three member Waste Reduction Task Force (Task Force) of solid waste professionals, county, municipal, industry and environmental representatives to look into the big picture of how Tennessee manages its solid waste and recycle material streams to set future goals and establish methods used to measure it.

The SWAC gave the following objectives to be addressed by the Task Force:

1. To develop recommendations for the SWAC for rules, to update, change, or revise the waste reduction goal for the State.

2. To define methodology to measure new waste reduction goal.

3. To develop alternatives to reduce waste.

These three objectives define the parameters and the mission for this Task Force.  The charges listed above are very important to the State and its citizens.  This group has the opportunity to help map the future of solid waste and waste reduction for the state for many years to come.

The Task Force is tentatively scheduled to have eight to nine meetings between September 2007 and May 2008.  To help expedite the work of the Task Force, four work groups have been established.  They are as follows:  1.) Waste Reduction Goal and Methodology 2.) Public and Private Participation 3.) Government Organization Roles and 4.) Infrastructure and Financial Development.

Please check back to this web page and the linked pages for up to date progress towards the objectives listed above.

For more information about Planning, Reporting, and Waste Reduction, please contact us.