The mission of the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management is to protect and enhance the public health and environment from existing and future contamination of the land through proper management and remediation of solid and hazardous wastes.

Division activities are land-based, regulating both solid waste and hazardous waste through specialized programs and functions. These include landfill permits, hazardous waste permits, state remediation program, used oil management, lead-based paint abatement, special waste, universal waste, and annual waste reporting. More detailed information is available through the links in the sidebar or in the text.

The Solid Waste Management Program was implemented in 1971, with the promulgation of the Regulations Governing Solid Waste Processing and Disposal. Facilities that perform solid waste processing activities are registered through a Permit by Rule process. Permits are issued to disposal facilities for handling the following categories of waste:

§ Class I landfills - municipal solid waste, household waste, shredded/waste tires, etc.
§ Class II landfills - industrial waste
§ Class III landfills - farming wastes, landscaping and land clearing wastes, etc.
§ Class IV landfills - construction and demolition waste

Certain other wastes (such as medical/infectious waste, dead animals, sludges, pesticides wastes, asbestos, etc.) require special waste approval prior to disposal. See the The Environmental Permitting Handbook for more information.

Implementation of Tennessee's Hazardous Waste Management Program began in 1980. In addition to oversight of hazardous waste facilities, the program includes the State Remediation Program for sites that are not permitted but need clean up, and the Used Oil Management Program, which operates under regulations established to encourage recycling of used oils.

Information on hazardous waste permitting is found in The Environmental Permitting Handbook, and a current list of hazardous waste transporters is provided. The Solid Waste Assistance Section has more information about recycling and disposal of household hazardous wastes.