The Tennessee Recycling Coalition announced the 2026 Recycler of the Year Awards, which were presented at the recent Tennessee Sustainability Conference. This special 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,聽along with TRC Executive Director Amber Greene,聽presented the awards during the annual conference held at Gatlinburg鈥檚 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 The Compost Company.聽Based in Ashland City and serving Nashville and all Middle Tennessee since 2012, The Compost Company is the only full-circle composting service in the region. The award was accepted by owners Clay and Jeffrey Ezell.
Y-12 National Security Complex’s Stewardship Operations Services Program聽was named Government Recycler of the Year.聽The Y-12 complex is committed to conducting activities in a manner which protects the public and the environment, prevents pollution, complies with applicable regulations, and continuously improves the management systems. Y-12鈥檚 Chloe Brown accepted the award.
Tennessee Delta Alliance was named Non-Profit Recycler of the Year.聽Tennessee Delta Alliance is a Byway Management Organization with a dual-purpose to manage the Great River Road National Scenic Byway and a water-based, regional Keep America Beautiful alignment.聽Under the leadership of Director Edmond McDavis III, who received the award, the Tennessee Delta Alliance is actively involved in litter prevention and environmental stewardship education in the Mississippi River Delta in Tennessee.
This year鈥檚 Top TN Recycling Leader award was presented to Buford Powell in a moving speech from his son Caleb Powell. Buford is an industry professional with extensive experience in solid waste management. Most recently, Powell oversaw SP Recycling Southeast, LLC鈥檚 operations in LaVergne, Tenn.
The Tom Hattle Memorial Award was presented to Jennifer Sauer, STEM and Environmental Studies educator and Social Justice advocate with Knox County Schools. Among the highlights of Jennifer鈥檚 work is leading students聽working in veggie and native gardens in the South Doyle Middle School’s Green STEM related arts classes and more.
This year鈥檚 Bob Fletcher Memorial Award Scholarship was presented to Autumn Greene by Bob鈥檚 daughter Alexis Fletcher-Biggs. Autumn has served as a summer intern at Tennessee Recycling Coalition. She plans to major in Wildlife Biology and Zoology. Bob鈥檚 widow Betty and daughter Ashland were also present.
Abbie Greene, twin sister to Autumn, had the opportunity to share her presentation about growing up in the environmental industry as the daughter of TRC鈥檚 Amber Greene. Abbie is passionate about environmental stewardship. Her fundraising efforts for St. Jude鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Hospital聽garnered a $3k donation from Meridian 豆包成人版.
The Tennessee Environmental Conference presented the 2026 Paul Hayden Memorial Award to fellow Greene County resident and environmental steward Jerry Griffin. For more than 50 years, Jerry has emulated Paul鈥檚 leadership as a volunteer conservationist and community leader whose work has shaped the environment and inspired generations of new stewards across the region. Most recently, Jerry has been a hero during clean-up after Hurricane Helene. He is serving on the David Crockett Birthplace State Park advisory board during the total rebuild of the park. Jerry Griffin never shies away from hard work and dedication to environmental protection, and we were pleased to present him this special award.