Based on research and industry feedback, by implementing a phased in approach to increasing requirements for diversion of C&D materials, Metro Nashville anticipates that this proposed ordinance will:
- increase local and regional infrastructure investment and development for recycling C&D materials
- spur development of regional markets and economies for recovered C&D materials, and
- reduce a significant portion of C&D waste going to landfill, extending the life of regional C&D and MSW landfills and reducing the burden of Nashville’s waste on our local and regional neighbors
Metro arranged for a third party to analyze the current C&D disposal and recovery options for the Middle-Tennessee region. A Model Fiscal Analysis of C&D Materials Management was developed by SCS Engineers and Barge Design Solutions, which allows Metro to compare costs associated with C&D recovery with traditional disposal costs for completed construction, demolition, renovation, and tenant improvement projects within Metro Nashville and Davidson County. The analysis addressed a range of building types and uses, including supermarkets, hotels, fire and police stations, and community centers. Project sizes ranged from 2,000 square feet to 322,000 square feet in development.
Metro has developed the following summary of findings from the Barge Design and SCS Engineers report:
In early 2022, almost all C&D waste generated in Davidson County was disposed of by the cubic yard at an in-county C&D landfill with minimal amounts of comingled C&D recycling occurring. Due to limited C&D landfill capacity, in mid-to-late 2022 two mixed C&D recycling facilities opened in Davidson County and two mixed C&D recycling facilities opened in nearby counties. Collectively, in December 2022 and January 2023, these four new C&D recycling facilities have managed over half of the total C&D waste generated in Nashville while leading to market adjustments in costs for C&D recycling compared to costs for C&D landfilling. With the current market conditions, comingled C&D recycling is cheaper or cost neutral compared to traditional disposal.