Hello TSRA Members,

It has been a busy March. I represented the TSRA at the Keep Tennessee Beautiful’s Great American clean up kick off lunch on March 1^st. Then, on March 6^th, attended the Tennessee Battery Recycling, Reuse &Second Life Applications Workshop put together by Tennessee Tech and TDEC. We were well received at both events as positive actors in our state, which is a testament to the hard work you all put into our communities every day.

Our Lobbyist team, Kim Adkins and Steve Buttry, have also been working hard and put together a legislative update below. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Thank you all for what you do to make this organization successful.

“Legislative committees started to shut down this week, a sign that the legislature will finish session mid-to-late April. Next week will be another busy week with heavy bill volume.

The EPR bill (SB 573 Campbell / HB 550 Harris) was officially assigned to the General Subcommittee / taken off notice in the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday – effectively killing the bill. The bill didn’t have enough votes to pass out of the committee.

Second, The “Clean Act” caption bill (SB 803 Briggs / HB 1451 Faison) was amended to create another litter study / task force to be conducted by a university is being taken off notice by the House bill Sponsor Rep. Faison – effectively killing the bill.

On Wednesday, a Solid Waste Task Force passed the Senate Ag Committee and will be heard on the House side in the next few weeks.  The amended version of SB2705 sponsored by Chairman Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) would create a 15 person task force to look for solutions to the state’s solid waste issues. The task force would be comprised of six appointees by Chairman Southerland, six by Chairman Chris Todd (R-Madison County) of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and three from the Governor. The amendment also allows companies to voluntarily donate funds to the decades long standing recycling grants fund / program. The House may have a different version of the task force, but we anticipate some type of committee or task force will pass this year on solid waste and diversion.”

Andrew Rice

President

TSRA President

Hello TSRA Members,

             I wanted to share that we had a great response from participating at the Tennessee Recycling Coalition Conference in Gatlinburg on Thursday August 24th. I gave a talk on who the TSRA is, current TN metal laws, and the metal markets. We plan to continue to participate with the TRC and their conference next year.

I would also like to encourage members to help raise funds for Representative Clark Boyd’s and Senator Paul Baily’s PACs. They have been great friends to our industry and keynote speakers for us. I will take all of our checks together in person to our lobbyist group Kim and Steve next week.

Please make checks out to:

JCB PAC – for Clark Boyd

PB PAC – For Paul Baily

Mail Checks to:

CFC Recycling

54 Recycle DR

Tullahoma, TN 37388

Thank you,

Andrew Rice

CFC RECYCLING

​Vice President

TSRA President

Cell: 931-247-8404

Email: [email protected]

Commercial Drivers’ License Even Exchange Bill: The estimated commercial driver shortage is over 80,000 drivers with the potential to grow to over 160,000 by the year 2028. SB 105/HB 88 by Senator Bo Watson and Representative Pat Marsh enables Tennessee to implement the “Even Exchange Program” as allowed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This program allows qualified military personnel,which includes activity duty, reservist, and national guard with driving experience, to be exempt from the knowledge test required to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). FMCSA establishes the minimum standards that each state must follow in administering the program. Tennessee will join 18 other states that have implemented the program. TSRA was an active member of the coalition lead by the Beverage Association of Tennessee in support of this legislation. This new law will help alleviate the shortage of commercial drivers. This bill passed and became known as Public Chapter No. 422 in 2023.

Tennessee Scrap Recyclers Association | TNSRA.com