A bill in the Tennessee Legislature aims to reduce packaging materials that end up in landfills by improving recycling in the Volunteer State.

One recent survey ranks Tennessee 47th among states for recycling, with only 7% of common containers and packaging recycled.

Senate Bill 573 would require reducing unnecessary packaging, and reclaiming more valuable materials in the recycling process. It would also support and develop markets for recycled materials.

Dan Firth chairs the Solid Waste and Mining Committee for the Sierra Club's Tennessee chapter, and said these improvements would result in cleaner air and water as well.

"This bill is focused on reducing the amount of packaging waste that is going into landfills, being incinerated and otherwise lost," said Firth. "And to ensure that those valuable materials that the packaging is made of is recovered and goes back into the circular economy."

The bill would establish an advisory board to conduct a statewide assessment of how recycling infrastructure and services could be improved. It is sponsored by state Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Oak Hill.

Firth emphasized that the bill would provide financial stability to local recycling systems, enabling investment in recycling infrastructure and creating local jobs.

He noted that it could also enhance Tennessee's business prospects by ensuring a domestic supply of raw materials for new products.

"In order to collect more materials, there will have to be more jobs to do that work - to do the collection, to do the transportation, to do the processing," said Firth. "There'll be more jobs in terms of using those materials that are collected, and making new products."

Firth said the bill would also reimburse towns for some of the related costs of their recycling programs.

California companies making compostable packaging materials said their products could make a huge dent in the problem of plastic pollution but only with changes to state and federal policy.

California passed Senate Bill 54 in 2022. It requires single-use packaging and plastic foodware to be either recyclable or compostable by 2032. The issue is with a companion bill, Assembly Bill 1201, which said compostable materials must be certified organic.

John Felts, cofounder and CEO of Santa Cruz-based Cruz Foam, which makes compostable packaging foam from food waste, said the requirement is a tall order.

"The idea that all compostable packaging would have to comply, would effectively remove compostable packaging from being viable," Felts explained. "The cost, the tracking, making a fully certified organic packaging material is nearly impossible."

The organic requirement is set to go into effect Jan. 1, but negotiations are underway in Sacramento to delay implementation, a move also supported by the plastics industry. Environmental advocates said plastic waste is choking the planet, disrupting marine ecosystems, and endangering human health, so recycling, reusable containers and compostable packaging are key.

It is estimated 40% of plastic produced today is used to make packaging, much of which is used once.

Julia Marsh, cofounder and CEO of San Leandro-based Sway, which uses seaweed to make flexible packaging, said plastic use is only increasing.

"About 5 trillion bags, wrappers and pouches are produced every year; 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year," Marsh pointed out. "That number is expected to triple by 2040, if production rates continue as is."

Advocates would also like the National Organic Program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to broaden the term "organic" to include certified compostable materials.


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A lot of households might have junk piles on their kitchen counter or an overflowing storage room. A North Dakota expert says to avoid stress that comes with clutter, there are skills to gain in tidying up.

According to AARP, a more organized and simplified living space can reduce stress, improve mental clarity and create a safer environment.

Deb Mathern is a volunteer with AARP North Dakota who offers guidance as part of the group's Speakers Bureau. She said she subscribes to an "equal-in, equal-out" theory.

"When you're out shopping, your house doesn't grow," said Mathern. "So, when you bring home that carload of stuff that you just purchased, it might be time to take out a couple things."

She said she understands it can be difficult to let go of things because people work hard to buy them.

Cherished family treasures can be kept in a box or specific area. Otherwise, she suggested donating items you really don't wear or use anymore.

For older populations who haven't downsized yet, she warned that extra piles create tripping hazards.

Mathern said when out shopping, it's OK to occasionally buy something that might bring you excitement and joy. But she recommends thinking first about how long you might keep it, and avoid falling into an unwanted pattern of loading up your cart.

"I think it fills an emotional void for a lot of people," said Mathern, "and that's the wrong reason to be buying."

As for older residents planning to move into a smaller space, she recommends measuring the size of bigger household items to figure out if they'll fit in the new home. She said if they won't, you might save on moving costs by leaving them behind if they won't be used much.

Lastly, she suggests not renting storage spaces for too long, because most of the contents just collect dust without being pulled out.

Designers and stylists will showcase their "upcycled" garments as models hit the runway for what is being dubbed a "trashion show" at the Waste EXPO in Las Vegas next month.

It is estimated the average American household spends around $1,500 a year on clothing.

Sonja Salmon, associate professor of textiles at North Carolina State University, said whether the items wear thin or go out of style, only a small fraction of them are actually recycled. She noted the industry is realizing more must be done to reuse materials.

"Textile fibers are really amazing materials," Salmon pointed out. "We wear them, they're on our bodies, they feel good, they make us happy. They're also a resource. They have chemistry in them, they have materials in them that deserve to be recycled and reused."

Salmon stressed millions of tons of textile waste end up in U.S. landfills each year. It not only takes a long time to break down but is a lost opportunity for reuse. She added companies have started to incentivize buyback programs, a step in the right direction. The Waste EXPO is May 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Salmon emphasized the Waste360 "trashion" runway will get people thinking differently about the use of fabrics. She explained today's clothes are primarily made up of synthetic fibers like polyester and natural fibers like cotton. Blended pieces are good for durability and comfort but are challenging to break down.

They have to be separated before recycling, so she pointed to the need for better collection and sorting technologies.

"So that large amounts of those materials can go to recycling processes," Salmon added. "I'm actually excited because Goodwill, an organization that we associate with clothing donation, is actually starting to think about its own role in helping the recycling process, in terms of collection and sorting."

Salmon encouraged shoppers to look to Goodwill and other thrift stores to purchase used clothing and participate in take-back programs to help sort materials for recycling. Consumers can also consider renting special-occasion clothing instead of buying.


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