2015 - 2025 Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

Objective 6: Expand and Focus Education and Outreach

Description

Objective 6 in the 2015-2025 Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan describes TDEC's goal for expanding and focusing education and outreach concerning waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs to the public. The State has developed and implemented several strategies to accomplish this goal.

Over the past year, the Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) has made an effort to increase the public’s knowledge of our regular Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) mobile events through electronic newsletters and is looking at new and innovative ways to publicize these events through social media.

DSWM is also partnering with the Solid Waste Association of North America, Tennessee Recycling Coalition, and Southeast Recycling Development Council to launch the Tennessee Training Academy to provide increased training opportunities for solid waste and recycling professionals in materials management concepts. The Division also recently enhanced the website to be more resourceful and dynamic by creating a new composting page, so that local governments or interested individuals can research composting and determine the best way to implement organics diversion in their own lives.

On October 6, 2016 TDEC partnered with the Mayor’s Office, Metro Government, Nashville Farmers Market, Second Harvest Food Bank, Nashville Food Project, NRDC, and The Compost Company to host an education and outreach event at the Nashville Farmers Market. This Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Community Event featured a showing of the documentary film Just Eat It, numerous local exhibitors, public announcements, and demonstrations on food waste reduction and diversion. 

Lastly, in partnership with Tennessee State Parks, DSWM staff will be participating in an environmental literacy working group. This working group will develop K-12 curriculum aimed at increasing environmental knowledge among young people in Tennessee.