The Tennessee Recycling Coalition announces the 2025 Recycler of the Year Awards. This program recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses in Tennessee that have demonstrated a commitment to and outstanding achievement in waste prevention and recycling.
Caleb Powell, Tennessee Sustainability Conference director and TRC chairman of the board, along with TRC Executive Director Amber Greene, presented the awards during the annual conference held at Gatlinburg’s Park Vista Hotel. The collaborative event was organized by TRC, the TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tennessee Environmental Conference.
The award for Business Recycler of the Year was presented to WM. Since 2011, WM has operated a hand-sort Construction & Demolition recycling operation adjacent to the company’s Southern Services C&D Landfill. In the first quarter of 2024, WM was proud to open the newly automated, state of the art mixed C&D recycling facility. In less than a year, WM has processed more than 100,000 tons of material at the newly automated facility. Of that, the company successfully recovered 56% for reuse.
Williamson County Solid 91²Ö¿â Department was named Government Recycler of the Year. The organization has created an innovative mattress recycling program in partnership with Spring Back Mattress Recycling, a socially and economically viable non-profit.  In 2024, Williamson County documented 8,085 mattresses recycled.
The Green Team in Williamson County was named Non-Profit Recycler of the Year. This group of leaders and students have been creating sessions and awareness programs to educate people on reusing, upcycling, and using compost for their food waste. The group partnered with Keep Williamson Beautiful and organized park cleanups in the community as well as teaching kids in the public library how to reuse and create items from household goods.
This year’s TN Top Leader award was presented to India Savage, environmental engineer at Spring Hill’s GM plant. India is responsible for weekly and monthly environmental inspections and audits to ensure the plant is compliant with all environmental regulations. India goes above as a leader in recycling, including spearheading an Electronic 91²Ö¿â Scrap Recycling event for employees that resulted in almost two metric tons of electronic waste recycled.
The Tom Hattle Memorial Award went to Doug Ashburn, Putnam County solid waste director. Doug has been serving the people of Putnam County, first in the Putnam County Sherriff’s Office, and now for more than 28 years with the Putnam County Solid 91²Ö¿â Department. He has earned his Certified Public Administrator and several other certifications and is a member of the Tennessee Solid 91²Ö¿â Directors Association.
In addition to the Recycling Awards, the Bob Fletcher Memorial Award Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 was presented to John Morgan. This scholarship will provide funding for Morgan to attend Tennessee Tech University to study Civil Engineering. The scholarship memorializes the late Bob Fletcher, longtime employee of the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation and passionate leader in environmental issues.
Jan Compton represented event partner Tennessee Environmental Conference, presenting the 2025 Paul Hayden Memorial Award to Mayor Alan Corley, city of Tusculum. Specifically spotlighted is the work Tusculumhas done in supporting David Crockett Birthplace State Park since being severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. Tusculum has provided venue space for events and also hosted public hearings related to the park’s rebuilding efforts following the major damage.