Landfill Operators Certification Training

A certified Landfill Operator must be present at a municipal solid waste landfill during all hours of operation, and all Class I Landfills must have a certified operator and attendant. A person interested in obtaining a Landfill Operator certification must take training provided by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and pass an examination conducted by TDEC. The details regarding the training and certification requirements can be found in TN Rule 0400-11-01-.12.

2025 Fall Certification: October 7-9, 2025

Registration Deadline: September 24, 2025

Initial certification training is
$400.00 per person (cost covers the 3-day training and testing).

Recertification training is
$500.00 per person (this includes training and the recertification fee).

Certificate of Completion is
$400.00 per person (this option is for those seeking training but do not
complete the test).

2025 Fall Training will be held at

The next Landfill Operators Certification Training will be October 7-9, 2025. The registration and payment deadline is September 24, 2025. The training will be held at the American Museum of Science & Energy. The certification for Landfill Operators is valid for three years and requires 24 hours of TDEC-approved training for recertification. Current certified operators may attend the full event to obtain 24 hours of recertification training without retesting. 

TDEC will provide a certificate of competency for those holding other states' certifications, SWANA, and similar 3rd party private certifications upon showing evidence the certification meets or exceeds Tennessee's criteria, payment of the processing fee is received, and providing all required information. Required topics are Landfill Math, Landfill Plans, Landfill Operations, Surveying, Waste Acceptance/Random Inspections, Groundwater Monitoring, Landfill Gas Management, Erosion Control, Liners & Leachate Collection, Closure & Post Closure, Compliance Inspections & Recordkeeping, and the successful completion of an examination.

Additional training opportunities for certified Landfill Operators to obtain the required 24 hours for recertification include online or approved relevant training from 3rd parties or environmental conferences. For questions or clarifications on solid waste regulations and training materials, individuals can contact Nickolaus Lytle at Nickolaus.Lytle@tn.gov.

All certified Landfill Operators are required to have on file an Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Attestation form CN-1497 (EVEA), a copy of a valid driver’s license or state ID, and their social security number. Those without this information on file are subject to having their certification revoked. To receive updates via email, update contact information, or request an invoice for training, individuals can contact Rebekah Earl at Rebekah.Earl@tn.gov.

· “EVEA” form - Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Attestation form (CN-1497)
   (An “EVEA” form with a valid ID must accompany all applications.)

Online Class Modules

Once both module parts are completed you will receive an invoice for payment. When the payment is verified your LOCT Course Completion will be updated. Each class is $199 per person.

Landfill Operators Continuing Education Class

Class 1 Landfill Class

Class 3 Landfill Class

Manuals

For questions regarding solid waste regulations and clarification on training materials, please contact Nickolaus Lytle at Nickolaus.Lytle@tn.gov.