Bill > SB0269

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," establishes a producer responsibility program for packaging materials to promote recycling, reuse, and composting, aiming to create jobs and reduce landfill waste. Producers of goods will be required to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), which will be a nonprofit entity responsible for implementing a plan to manage the lifecycle of certain packaging materials. This plan will involve needs assessments, financing mechanisms based on producer dues that vary by material type and recycled content, and strategies for waste reduction, reuse, and composting. The bill also creates a Producer Responsibility Program Advisory Board to advise on these plans, defines terms like "covered materials" (packaging materials, with specific exemptions for things like long-term storage packaging or certain regulated products) and "covered entities" (residences, schools, nonprofits, and government entities), and outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Environment and Conservation, PROs, producers, and service providers in administering the program. The act includes provisions for enforcement, penalties for non-compliance, and specifies that certain counties must operate under the program as service providers, while others have the option to participate.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0269&ga=114