SB2551 • 2026

Solid Waste Disposal

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

Active

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

Sponsor: Reeves, Terry
Last action: 2026-03-04
Official status: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Solid Waste Disposal Rules

This bill requires municipalities and counties in Tennessee to enter into host community agreements before disposing of solid waste in landfills outside their own areas.

What This Bill Does

Requires municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions to get a host community agreement before disposing of solid waste in another area's landfill.
Specifies that the agreement must include details about compensation, truck routes, operating hours, environmental protections, and enforcement.
Limits the Department of Environment and Conservation from issuing permits for landfills accepting out-of-county waste without a valid host community agreement.
Does not apply to existing contracts or emergency situations declared by the governor.

Who It Names or Affects

Municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions in Tennessee
Landfill operators and owners

Terms To Know

Host community agreement: A written agreement between the exporting jurisdiction (the one sending waste) and the host jurisdiction (where the landfill is located), allowing for solid waste disposal.
Exporting jurisdiction: Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision that seeks to dispose of its waste in a landfill outside its own area.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact fiscal impact due to multiple unknown factors.
It applies only to contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2134
By Terry

SENATE BILL 2551
By Reeves
SB2551
009901
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Exporting jurisdiction" means any county, municipality, or other
political subdivision seeking to dispose of waste in a landfill located in another
jurisdiction in this state;
(2) "Host community agreement" means a written and executed
agreement between the governing body of the exporting jurisdiction and the
governing body of the host jurisdiction that expressly authorizes the acceptance
of solid waste; and
(3) "Host county" or "host municipality" means the jurisdiction in which
the landfill or solid waste disposal facility is physically located.
(b) An exporting jurisdiction shall not dispose of, or contract for the disposal of,
solid waste in a landfill located outside its territorial boundaries unless the host county or
host municipality in which the landfill is located has entered into a host community
agreement approving such disposal.
(c) A host community agreement must:
(1) Specify the duration of the agreement and any renewal or termination
terms;

- 2 - 009901

(2) Identify the landfill or disposal facility to which the agreement applies;
(3) Include provisions addressing compensation or host fees, if any,
payable to the host jurisdiction;
(4) Include provisions addressing truck routes, operating hours,
environmental protections, and enforcement; and
(5) Be approved by resolution of each participating governing body in a
public meeting.
(d) The department shall not issue or renew any permit for a solid waste
disposal facility that accepts waste from outside the host jurisdiction unless:
(1) The applicant provides a copy of the current host community
agreement; and
(2) The department determines the agreement complies with this section.
(e) This section does not apply to:
(1) Waste streams managed under an existing valid contract entered into
prior to July 1, 2026, until such contract expires or is renewed; or
(2) Emergency circumstances declared by the governor or the
commissioner for purposes of disaster response or public health protection.
(f) Nothing in this section prohibits a host county or municipality from imposing
additional conditions, fees, or restrictions on out-of-county waste by ordinance,
resolution, or interlocal agreement.
(g) This section applies to all contracts entered into for the disposal of solid
waste on or after July 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-814(b), is amended by
adding the following language as a new subdivision:

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No solid waste planning region or county shall approve or permit the
disposal of out-of-county waste at a landfill located within its jurisdiction unless a
host community agreement, as defined in Section 1 of this act, has been
executed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.