2015 - 2025 Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

Objective 3: Promote Material Processing and End Use in Tennessee

In August of 2017, TDEC partnered with United States Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD) to launch the Tennessee Materials Marketplace. The program aims to create a closed-loop, collaborative network of businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs where one organization’s hard-to-recycle waste and by-products becomes another organization’s raw material. In addition to diverting waste from landfills, these recovery activities generate significant cost savings, energy savings, and create new jobs and business opportunities.

Staff with the Division of Solid Waste Management and the Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices work alongside USBCSD to solicit involvement in the program by engaging directly with Tennessee businesses to learn about their challenges in finding the highest, best use for their by-products and waste streams. We also work with local governments, trade associations, and non-profits to create a diverse and dynamic materials marketplace in Tennessee.

The marketplace already hosts a wide variety of participants, including multiple major manufacturers in the automotive, furniture, appliance, and chemical sectors as well as multiple recyclers, food brands, and local governments.

To learn more about the Tennessee Materials Marketplace, please visit https://tennessee.materialsmarketplace.org or contact Trey White or Vaughn Cassidy.