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A resolution approving a Solid Waste Regional Plan for Davidson County, Tennessee.
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WHEREAS, RS92-474 created the Davidson County Solid Waste Region Board (the “Board”); and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-211-813(c) and T.C.A. § 68-211-861, the Board is responsible for the development of a ten-year disposal capacity plan which satisfies the states 25% solid waste reduction goal; and,
WHEREAS, after the approval of the Mayor pursuant to RS92-474, RS93-973 approved the Solid Waste Region Plan, which was subsequently approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation; and,
WHEREAS, T.C.A. § 68-211-815(b)(15) requires that revised plans be reviewed and approved by the Metropolitan Council; and,
WHEREAS, the Board created a new, ten-year plan, Solid Waste Masterplan: Achieving Solid Waste (the “Plan”), to work toward the goal of achieving zero waste over the next 30 years; and,
WHEREAS, the Plan was approved unanimously by the Board September 16, 2019; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to RS92-474, the Metropolitan Mayor has reviewed the Plan prior to submittal for approval to the Metropolitan Council; and,
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation previously reviewed and approved the Plan; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Metropolitan Government that the Plan be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Davidson County Solid Waste Regional Plan, Solid Waste Masterplan: Achieving Solid Waste, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A, be and is hereby approved pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-211-815(b).
Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution approves the new Solid Waste Regional Plan for Davidson County. T.C.A. § 68-211-813(c) and T.C.A. § 68-211-861 provide that the Solid Waste Regional Board (the “Board”) is responsible for the development of a ten-year disposal capacity plan that satisfies the state’s 25% solid waste reduction goal. Metro adopted the initial Solid Waste Regional Plan pursuant to R93-973. T.C.A. § 68-211-815(b)(15) requires that revised plans be reviewed and approved by the Metro Council.
In 2017, the Council enacted Ordinance No. BL2017-710 approving a consulting contract with CDM Smith, Inc. for the development of a long-term solid waste management plan. This was to include the evaluation of the existing solid waste management system and provide options to improve and enhance the system and increase waste reduction and diversion. The ultimate goal of this plan is to be zero waste, setting the vision for waste reduction, diversion, and management for the next 30 years.
With the assistance of CDM Smith, the Board created a new ten-year plan called the Solid Waste Masterplan: Achieving Zero Waste (the “Plan”) to move toward the goal of achieving zero waste over the next 30 years. The concept of “zero waste” is essentially shifting from the disposal of municipal waste to managing waste as a resource. The Plan was approved unanimously by the Board, and has been reviewed and approved by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
The Plan is a 494-page document (including the appendices) that is to be implemented in phases over the next 20 to 30 years. The Plan is organized into three scenarios: conservative, moderate, and aggressive. The aggressive scenario includes everything that would be necessary to achieve 90% diversion. The moderate and conservative scenarios would be easier to implement, but would not result in the same level of diversion.
A significant recommendation in the Plan is the Save-As-You-Throw (SAYT) collection approach. This would incentivize residents and businesses to reduce waste, recycle, and divert food scraps from household waste. The first phase of the Plan (years 1-4) would include residential SAYT collection, enhanced household recycling, and construction and demolition recycling. The estimated annual cost of the first phase is $28.3 million. SAYT would expand to commercial establishments in later phases.
One of the primary challenges of the Plan implementation is funding. Section 1.05 of the Metro Charter provides that “refuse collection” is one of the additional services to be provided in the Urban Services District (USD), which is funded as part of the USD tax levy. In order to address this issue, the Plan recommends the creation of a solid waste authority under T.C.A. § 68-211-901, et seq. State law enables solid waste authorities to set fees for the services they provide. Creation of a solid waste authority would require approval of a resolution by the Council after public comment.