Solid Waste Assistance Programs

Solid Waste Assistance Programs group is divided into three separate sections that provide technical, financial, and reporting assistance to the 68 solid waste planning regions and Tennessee's 95 counties. Currently sixteen people work the various programs to meet the needs of the state.

The Problem Waste section provides technical assistance to the regions and counties in the handling of problem wastes.  Problem wastes include waste tires, used oil, batteries, anti-freeze, electronics and household hazardous wastes. This section also coordinates  the household hazardous waste mobile events and manages the state's used oil program and waste tire program.

Financial assistance is provided by our Solid Waste Grants section.  This section manages over 200 grants each year with expenditures over $2 million a year to improve solid waste infrastructure.  Specialized grants for recycling equipment, used oil, waste tire clean-ups are just a few.  Funding comes from the Solid Waste Management Fund which is generated by the tipping fee surcharge and waste tire pre-disposal collection fee.

The Planning, Reporting, and Waste Reduction section oversees the solid waste planning and waste reduction efforts of the 68 solid waste planning regions.  This section is charged with reviewing the solid waste plans and updates detailing the region's efforts and progress towards meeting the 25% waste diversion goal  and related activities. This section also conducts qualitative assessments of the solid waste regions failing to meet the 25% waste reduction and diversion goals and establishes a plan to address this deficiency. Other areas of interest are waste  diversion efforts, technical workshops, and technical assistance to these solid waste planning regions.

Other areas of interest include the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) and Mercury Lamps.

For more information about the Problem Waste Programs, please contact us.