Metro Waste Services is responsible for the review of solid waste plans for building permits. This review ensures that all new developments, renovations, and construction projects include a solid waste plan that meets all Metro Codes and Solid Waste policies as well as promotes environmental responsibility through recycling and effective waste management practices.
Building Permit Applications
All permits that require a Solid Waste Review must submit a Waste Management Plan as outlined below to SolidWasteReview@nashville.gov.
Waste Management Plan Requirements
Starting January 1, 2026, Waste Management Plans must be submitted in the form of a separate construction drawing specific to the site storage and collection of trash, recycling, and/or organics. For plans submitted prior to January 1, 2026, waste management information can be notated within another construction drawing such as the site plan or provided in another format that can be filed with the building permit and approved by the department. All Waste Management Plans must clearly identify the following:
- Storage location of all carts, dumpsters, or compactors including dimensions of storage area and dimensions of containers. All plans must show storage space for both trash and recycling containers at a minimum.
- Collection location of all carts, dumpsters, or compactors if containers must be moved to a different location for collection.
- All carts, dumpsters, and compactors must be graphically represented on the construction drawings to scale and labeled for the material they collect (i.e. “trash”, “recycling”, “organics”, “glass”, “cardboard”, etc.) and include container capacity.
- All private roads must be labeled as such.
- Identify either on the construction drawings or in the drawing notes the route the collection trucks will take to access the containers. This must include road clearance dimensions and any turn radiuses.
- If a dumpster pad is required, construction drawings must include details demonstrating the dumpster pad meets requirements in the department’s Solid Waste Policies.
- Identify if the site is anticipating Metro Collection or will be utilizing private collection. (See Metro Code §10.20.220 and the department’s Solid Waste Policies for Metro’s collection requirements).
- If a private hauler is required for collection, identify in the construction drawing notes the anticipated rate of collection, (i.e. weekly, biweekly, etc.).
- For residential developments utilizing a private hauler for collection that require an HOA, the HOA agreement indicating that private collection for both trash and recycling will be required must be attached and referenced in the construction drawing notes.
- Must meet requirements for designing for recycling as described below.
- Must meet all applicable Solid Waste Policies for new development.
Designing for Recycling
Per the department’s Solid Waste Policies, all residential and commercial development and renovation must include space for both trash and recycling containers. Residential and commercial development and renovation which will utilize trash dumpsters and compactors must also provide concrete pads for recycling dumpsters or compactors.
Per Metro Code §10.20.095, yard waste, corrugated cardboard, and electronic waste is banned from solid waste collection. New construction or developments that will generate these items as part of commercial or industrial operations must identify either on the construction drawings or in the drawing notes how this material will be collected for recycling or waste diversion.