Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-211-806

(a) Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee State University may research and develop methods to address how to use the materials in solid waste as raw materials to create jobs, business and compost.

(b) Such research by the universities may include how to divert food waste and yard waste, which make up twenty-five percent (25%) of the waste stream, from landfills to create useful compost and clean methane gas.

(c) Such methods and research may be made available to government agencies and others involved in solid waste reform. Such research and work shall be funded entirely from nonstate sources.

(d) The universities will demonstrate the extent to which such reforms are cost effective. For example, that diversion of materials in solid waste as raw materials in business and compost creates jobs and profits.