Recycling

Each county must provide at least one site for the collection of recyclable materials within the county. T.C.A. § 68-211-863.  From funds available from the solid waste management fund, the Department of Environment and Conservation is required to provide a matching funds grant program for the purchase of equipment needed to establish or upgrade recycling at a public or not-for-profit recycling collection site.  However, these grants will generally not be granted if there is adequate equipment at privately-owned facilities which serve the same area.  The eleven counties which generate the greatest amount of solid waste receive a rebate from the state surcharge on waste disposed in the county in accordance with a formula described in T.C.A. § 68- 211-825.  A county may only expend the rebate for recycling purposes and must expend from local funds an amount equal to the amount of the rebate towards this purpose.  Counties which receive recycling rebates are not eligible for the recycling equipment grants.