RESOLUTION NO. RS2015-1414

A resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and support the necessary legislation to allow the Metropolitan Government to use solid waste generation fees to pay for material recovery and processing.

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County presently suffers significant economic, environmental, and health damage as a result of landfilling recoverable materials in solid waste; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government could greatly improve material recovery rates through the use of additional methods of recovery and processing techniques; and

WHEREAS, utilizing additional recovery methods and processing techniques to reduce the amount of landfilled waste would result in additional expenses for the Metropolitan Government; and

WHEREAS, T.C.A. § 68-211-835(g) authorizes local governments to impose and collect a solid waste disposal fee, but specifies that the funds generated from such fees may only be used to establish and maintain solid waste collection and disposal services; and

WHEREAS, T.C.A. § 68-211-835(g) further provides that the solid waste disposal fees shall bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of providing the solid waste disposal services; and

WHEREAS, this limitation on the use of the solid waste disposal fee revenue restricts the Metropolitan Government’s options for performing material recovery and processing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and support the necessary legislation amending T.C.A. § 68-211-835 to allow the Metropolitan Government to use funds collected from solid waste disposal fees to pay for material recovery and processing, to cover costs borne by the Metropolitan Government as a result of disposal, and to cover the ascertainment of such costs, in addition to waste disposal and collection.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Anthony Davis, Burkley Allen, Scott Davis, Tim Garrett, Bruce Stanley, Phil Claiborne, Duane Dominy