Governor Bill Haslam signed a bill that will outlaw aluminum cans and plastic bottles from landfills in the state..
The Legislature this session passed Senate Bill 941 and House Bill 945.
The new law offers incentives for communities in Tennessee which provide collection infrastructure for collecting recyclables, the publication Plastic News noted.
The development was hailed by the Southeast Recycling Development Council, a group that promotes recycling in the Southeastern states.
Will Sagar, executive director of the non-profit group, said, "We are pleased that the Tennessee legislature recognizes that aluminum cans and plastic bottles are natural resources that have markets ready and waiting to pay for them if consumers separate them from trash and recycle them. This recycling law is a step toward helping to provide much-needed feedstock to the Tennessee aluminum and plastic recycling industries, which support jobs in the state."