HB 2518

ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1793, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 r ewrites this bill to establish the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables and the recycling market development and diversion advisory council . O ffice of C ooperative M arketing for R ecyclables This amendment establishes the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables in TDEC, to be funded with f unds available from the solid waste management fund . The full text of this amendment specifies nine duties that the office will exercise with regard to enhancing markets for recyclable materials. This amendment specifies that the establishment of the office does not expand or modify the department's regulatory, tax, or fee authority. This amendment also classifies as confidential a ll proprietary, c onfidential, or competitively sensitive information submitted by a private entity to the office in furtherance of enhancing markets for recyclable materials. Recycling Market Development and Diversion Advisory Council This amendment establishes the 17-member recycling market development and diversion advisory council, which will be attached to TDEC for administrative purposes only. The full text of this amendment specifies nine duties for the council concerning the market for recyclables. The council will consist of the following voting members: (1) Five representatives of private industry, appointed by the governor, who shall represent industries that may include plastics, glass, paper, aluminum, scrap metal, advanced recycling, other recyclable materials sectors, producers of consumer goods, or retailers of consumer goods; (2) Two representatives of recycling-focused trade associations, appointed by the governor; (3) One representative of a private recycling operator, appointed by the governor; (4) One representative of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, appointed by the governor; (5) One representative from a conservation organization, appointed by the governor; (6) One municipal solid waste director, appointed by the governor; (7) One c ounty solid waste director, appointed by the governor; (8) One member of the advisory task force on solid waste, jointly appointed by the chair of the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives with jurisdiction over subje ct matters pertaining to solid waste disposal; (9) The commissioner of TDEC , or the commissioner's designee; (10) The commissioner of ECD , or the commissioner's designee; (11) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (12) One member of the senate, appointed by the speaker of the senate. The full text of this amendment specifies various organizational and procedural requirements for the council. This amendment requires the council to submit a nnual report s to the governor, the chair of the senate energy, agriculture and natural resources committee, and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having subject jurisdiction over solid waste disposal. The general assembly may request additional reports from the council on specific matters related to recycling market developmen t. This amendment specifies that the council will not regulate solid waste disposal, and establishment of the council will not expand TDEC's regulatory authority, or authorize TDEC to impose new reporting requirements, recycling mandates, procurement mandates, disposal restrictions, fees or other regulatory obligations absent separate legislative authorization. The council is terminated on June 30, 2030, unless continued by an act of the general assembly.