Why can’t this plan work all states in the U.S.? It has worked in Europe since the 1990’s and in five states here. You see, Tennessee (TN) has a major problem that other states are facing. Landfills all across TN and the U.S are approaching capacity. One landfill in Murfreesboro TN takes in more than 1,000 tons of waste every day! It will have to close in four years and because of lack of space. Yikes! Yet, no one wants to live by a landfill. Everyone says, “Not in my backyard!”
What is the solution to this? Ship your garbage 90, 100, 120 miles? No! Those extra costs to ship garbage away are very high and consumers simply will not pay them.
Did you know that about 76% of Americans throw their recyclables in the trash and TN ranks almost last in recycling in the country. Why? What is the solution to this dilemma?
The solution is to put less trash in the landfill and to recycle more.
How do that? I think the solution lies in this approach: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Listen as host Tim Jordan explores this idea with State Senator, from Davidson County TN, Heidi Campbell, who sponsored the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act.
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Resources for This Podcast:
Website: Tennessee Waste to Jobs.
You Tube Video: Waste to Jobs Act. Harpeth Conservatory.
Article: (2025). Gentry, P. Tennessee legislation pushes for recycling overhaul amid looming landfill closures. WUOT 91.9 FM News.
Article: (2025). Stephenson, C. Lawmakers push bill aiming to solve Tennessee’s recycling problems to 2026. The Tennessee Lookout.
Report: (2024). State of Recycling: The Present and Future of Residential Recycling in the U.S. The Recycling Partnership: Solving for Circularity.
Article: (2024). Kaufmann, L. Americans Throw 76% of Their Recyclables Into the Trash. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-10/americans-trash-three-quarters-of-recyclables-study-finds?embedded-checkout=true&utm_source
Article: (2024). Garcia, T. TN lawmaker to propose bill aimed at reducing waste, adding jobs. WSMV4. https://www.wsmv.com/2024/12/17/tn-lawmaker-propose-bill-aimed-reducing-waste-adding-jobs/?utm_source
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Interested in becoming a sponsor of this podcast? Contact me at:
Thoughts? Feedback? Suggestions for topics or guests? Contact: tjordan@1795consulting.com
Grass Roots Health is produced and hosted by Tim Jordan.
Artwork created by Priyanka Banerjee.
Audio editing, mixing, and mastering by Suma Recording, Painesville, Ohio https://www.sumarecording.com/Website design by Alex Brinkman, Green Tree Media, Toledo, Ohio www.greentreemediallc.com
