Tennessee's Pollution Prevention (P2) Program is located within TDEC's non-regulatory Office of Sustainable Practices. The P2 Program provides educational resources related to pollution prevention to Tennessee's manufacturers. Pollution prevention is defined as any practice that prevents, reduces, or eliminates pollution at its source. You are receiving this newsletter as part of Tennessee's environmental-regulated community.

The Tennessee Multi-Sector Stormwater Permit (TMSP) (also known as Industrial Stormwater permit) requires certain sectors to sample their stormwater runoff on an annual basis. The deadline to submit the 2025 stormwater monitoring results to TDEC is March 31, 2026.

As a reminder, monitoring results should be submitted through NetDMR. If you have questions about submitting the monitoring results, contact Pollution.Prevention@tn.gov for help.

Our next webinar will focus on the challenges in materials reuse for Tennessee's industry and opportunities especially for plastics recycling. We will take a look at recent successes and oncoming challenges for materials reuse for industry our state.

Oak Ridge National Labs will then provide information on an opportunity for especially the automotive industry in plastics recycling. 

Register here: Material Reuse in Tennessee: Opportunities for Industry in the Plastics Recycling Supply Chain

We invite you to join the Tennessee Sustainable Spirits program for an expert-led webinar focused on improving energy efficiency in chiller and glycol systems for breweries, wineries, and distilleries. This session will explore common sources of energy waste and practical strategies for reducing costs, strengthening temperature control, and enhancing overall system performance.

This event is ideal for beverage manufacturers, facility and operations managers, sustainability professionals, and anyone involved in managing cooling systems within the beverage industry.

Register here: Sustainable Cooling for Spirits Producers

📅 The entire 2026 P2 webinar schedule can be found on our Pollution Prevention website.

The Office of Sustainable Practices is continuing to pursue providing technical assistance, networking and educational opportunities to our regulated community in 2026.

Our last webinar was a success. If you were not able to join us, please visit our YouTube channel-

Energy Assessments Exposed: What We See Most and Why It Matters

TN's Pollution Prevention (P2) Program is conducting a 10-minute, voluntary survey to better understand how we can help manufacturers find ways to reduce operational expenses through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, while protecting natural resources through conservation.

2026 Pollution Prevention Industry Survey  

Your answers provide us the information to develop webinars, workshops and technical assistance for Tennessee's industry. Please take a few minutes and have a chance to win Tennessee State Parks Gift Basket (valued at more than $50). Winners will be selected following the conclusion of the survey in late-April and contacted by OSP staff.

The Tennessee Green Star Partnership, our premiere sustainable industry leadership program, continues to grow by quantity and quality. Our newest partners include Toyota Boshoku in Jackson and XSYS in Morristown.

Are you an industry that has consistently gone beyond compliance? Are you a leader in corporate and manufacturing sustainability? Please visit our TGSP webpage to see if you qualify for participation in this partnership. 

(Information provided by TDEC's Office of Energy Programs)

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) administers the Innovation & Research for Industry Success (IRIS) Grant Program, which aims to enhance and facilitate partnerships between private industry and the state’s leading research institutions. The grant program will encourage companies to pilot innovative technologies and pursue discoveries within the state, which, in turn, will facilitate collaborations that highlight the strength of Tennessee’s research capabilities and foster long-term corporate investment in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

Prior to applying for funding, the IRIS Intake Form must be submitted to confirm program eligibility. Applications for the inaugural round of IRIS funding are open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Office of Sustainable Practices is hosting a quarterly, hour-long open discussion for existing and prospective TN Green Star Partnership partners, as well as Tennessee manufacturers interested in pursuing sustainability and solving environmental issues.

The goal of these open discussions is to facilitate conversation to help solve the problems your
facility is facing. Topics may include recycling, resource reuse, vendors, and any other items relating to facility environment, health, sustainability, or operations. Members will receive a reoccurring quarterly calendar appointment.

Future Open Discussions will be a combination of a planned agenda based on topics submitted by
participants before the meeting. Please expect to introduce yourself, your position and what your
facility manufactures or processes.

Our next Open Discussion will be on April 13, 2026.

If you would like to join us, contribute and learn, please contact Vaughn Cassidy directly, at 731-431-7856 or through e-mail: Vaughn.Cassidy@tn.gov.

Registration opening soon for USGBC Transformation Forum – From Linear to Circular: Advancing the Built Environment in Tennessee 
Late May | Nashville, TN

Join USGBC Tennessee to discuss circular economy practices in the built environment. Adaptive reuse and comprehensive life-cycle planning aren't just good for the planet; they deliver measurable value for companies and communities. USGBC's LEED v5 and TRUE rating systems provide comprehensive frameworks to support teams in establishing circular economy practices and demonstrating measurable progress, transparency, and accountability. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Consider attending the Tennessee Environmental Network Show of the South this May. The conference provides educational content with a positive impact!

This conference strives to embrace a strong commitment to fostering significant connections among Tennessee and Mid-South Attendees, Speakers, Sponsors, and Exhibitors.