Tennessee Code Title 5. Counties § 5-19-106

(a) In connection with the operation of any refuse collection or disposal equipment or facility as provided in this chapter, the superintendent, or the board in the event the powers conferred by this chapter are exercised through a board, with the approval of the county legislative body or other governing body, or the county legislative body or other governing body is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with other governmental units or agencies, federal, state or local, including municipalities, towns, utility districts and improvement districts within the county or with private contractors, for furnishing services, equipment and facilities within the purview of this chapter, and to enter into cooperative arrangements and agreements for providing such services and facilities, upon terms deemed advantageous by the agency involved.

(b) The county legislative body or other governing body, or other agency involved with the approval of the county legislative body or other governing body, is authorized to enter into contracts with any of the governmental units described in subsection (a) or private entities to provide or share in the provision of any refuse collection or disposal equipment, facility or service and for the joint operation thereof, and to make or pay charges in connection therewith by written agreement with such unit or entity.

(c) All governmental units subject to the jurisdiction of the state are hereby authorized to enter into contracts with the appropriate agency prescribed herein for the providing of any refuse collection or disposal equipment, facility or service within the purview of this chapter, and to otherwise cooperate in furnishing such facilities, equipment or services upon any terms deemed to be mutually advantageous.

(d) In any cooperative undertaking with any other governmental unit or entity, or in a contract with any private contractor, as described in this section for furnishing any of the facilities, equipment or services contemplated in this chapter, the county's share of the costs may be financed in the same manner as is provided for in § 5-19-111 to discharge direct county costs for such facilities, equipment or services.