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HB2516 • 2026

Solid Waste Disposal

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211, relative to solid waste.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Todd, Reeves
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Comp. SB subst.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The provided candidate explanation includes details about rulemaking deadlines which are not explicitly mentioned in the official summary text.

Solid Waste Disposal Act

This bill updates how Tennessee manages solid waste by changing requirements for regional disposal plans and setting deadlines for submission and review.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each solid waste region to develop a plan that includes where waste will be disposed of and managed over the next ten years, along with goals for reducing and recycling waste.
  • Sets a deadline for each solid waste region to submit its new or revised plan by July 1, 2028.
  • Updates how these plans are reviewed and approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation within specific timeframes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Solid waste regions in Tennessee must develop and submit new or revised ten-year disposal plans.
  • The Department of Environment and Conservation reviews these plans and provides feedback within specific timeframes.

Terms To Know

solid waste region
An area designated by the state for managing solid waste, including planning for its disposal and recycling.
Department of Environment and Conservation
The government agency responsible for reviewing and approving plans related to solid waste management in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a region fails to submit the required plan by July 1, 2028.
  • It is unclear how the changes will affect existing recycling programs and landfill operations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2516

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements and policies related to solid waste disposal planning in Tennessee.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803 of the Tennessee Code, stating that it is state policy to plan for sufficient landfill capacity for non-recovered or recycled solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by updating the requirement for regions to develop a ten-year waste management and disposal plan, including details on where waste will be managed and how they will meet recycling goals.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814(a)(1) to set deadlines for submitting regional plans to the Department of Environment and Conservation by July 1, 2028, with specific timelines for review and resubmission if incomplete or disapproved.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how regions will be penalized or incentivized for compliance with these new requirements.
  • It is unclear what the criteria established by subdivision (a)(4) of Section 68-211-814 will entail.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2547

Plain English: The amendment updates Tennessee's solid waste management laws to ensure regions plan for sufficient landfill capacity and submit detailed plans every ten years.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803, stating that the state aims to have enough landfill space for non-recycled or unrecovered solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by requiring regions to develop ten-year plans detailing where and how waste will be managed and recycled.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814, setting deadlines for submitting regional waste management plans and establishing a review process with specific timelines for feedback and resubmission.
  • Adds new subdivision (a)(4) to Section 68-211-814, requiring the underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board to create criteria for reviewing regional plans by December 31, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not specify what sanctions will be imposed if regions do not comply with the new requirements.
  • Details on how the review process and criteria established in subdivision (a)(4) of Section 68-211-814 will work are not provided.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2547

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements and policies related to solid waste disposal planning in Tennessee.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803 of the Tennessee Code, stating that it is state policy to plan for sufficient landfill capacity for non-recovered or recycled solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by updating the requirements for regional plans on waste disposal and management over a ten-year period.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814 to set deadlines for submitting new or revised regional plans, outlines review processes by the Department of Environment and Conservation, and establishes timelines for resubmitting corrected plans if disapproved.
  • Adds a new subdivision (4) to Section 68-211-814, requiring the Underground Storage Tanks and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board to create criteria for reviewing regional waste disposal plans by December 31, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details on how the new policies will be implemented or enforced beyond setting deadlines and review processes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 78, Nays 0, PNV 12

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0781)

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  9. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  10. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  13. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  14. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 24, Nays 0, PNV 3

  16. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0706)

  17. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0818)

  18. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/24/2026

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  21. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  22. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  23. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  24. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  25. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  26. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026

  27. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  30. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2547, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2
rewrites the bill to, instead, declare that it is the policy of this state to plan for sufficient landfill capacity to dispose of solid waste that is not recovered or recycled. Present law requires each municipal solid waste region to develop a plan for
a ten-year disposal capacity, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. This amendment, instead, requires each solid waste region to develop a plan that includes a narrative identifying where waste will be disp
osed and managed for the next 10 years, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. Such a plan must be updated and resubmitted to the department at least every 10 years.

Present law requires each solid waste region to submit its plan to the department of environment and conservation. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 90 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the department must state in detail the
reasons for such disapproval, and the region must resubmit a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days.

This amendment requires each solid waste region to submit a new or revised plan by July 1, 2028. The department must notify the region within 30 days whether the plan includes all necessary information, or identify what additional information is require
d. If the department determines the plan is incomplete, the region must submit all additional required information within 60 days. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 120 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the region must resubm
it
a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days, or the region may file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the letter of disapproval.

RULEMAKING

This amendment requires the underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board to promulgate rules to effectuate this amendment, including promulgating rules to establishing criteria for review of regional plans by December 31, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2547
By Reeves

HOUSE BILL 2516
By Todd
HB2516
012281
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211,
relative to solid waste.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-111(c)(2), is amended by
deleting the first sentence and substituting:
If the board incurs a vacancy, it shall notify the appointing authority in writing
within forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.