TN Sustainability

We enjoyed our visit with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Business Development Division. Strengthening the partnership between TDEC and TDA helps us better support and advance Tennessee’s agribusiness sector. We look forward to continued collaboration!

Collaboration is key to strengthening Tennessee’s agriculture and environmental stewardship efforts 🌱

Recently, TDA’s Business Development Division welcomed colleagues from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to Ellington Agricultural Center.

Both departments came together to learn from one another and explore new ways to support Tennessee’s farmers, businesses and communities.

With expertise ranging from agritourism and livestock to sustainability, small business support, and outreach, this partnership is creating stronger pathways to serve Tennesseans.

Thank you to our partners at TDEC for the collaboration.

Photo Left to Right:
Rachel Sullivan (TDA - Business Consultant)
Ginna McWhirter (TDEC - Small Business Education and Outreach Coordinator)
Kelsey Davis (TDEC - TN State Parks Sustainability Coordinator)
Donovan Grimwood (TDEC - Small Business Environmental Ombudsman)
Kristen Privette (TDEC - Public Education and Outreach Coordinator)
Crystal Warren (TDEC - Business Programs Manager)
Matthew Wade (TDA – Assistant Commissioner for Business Development)
Kacey Troup (TDA – Business Consultant)
Caleb Powell (TDEC- Industry Outreach Coordinator)
Rob Thomas (TDA – Livestock Specialist Supervisor)
Jacob Tipton (TDA – Business Consultant)
Not pictured: Kristen Ouellette (TDA – Business Consultant)

National Prescription Drug is a free event for communities nationwide to properly dispose of old and unneeded medications safely and anonymously. On Saturday, April 25, from 10am-2pm bring those old and unneeded medications to a collection site near you: www.DEATakeBack.com

Join the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as we celebrate Earth Day at events across the state! Visit our booths and learn about how you can embrace sustainability in Tennessee. Swipe to find an event near you, and click the link in our bio for more information.🌎

Our office is hiring!

📰Exciting News! Our Office of Sustainable Practices has a position open for you to join our team!

The application closes on April 27th, so apply soon!

To find the job posting, you can visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/about-tdec/employment-and-internships.html and scroll down to Preferred Service and open the accordion for Middle Tennessee. There, you will find "TDEC - Environmental Scientist 2" for Office of Sustainable Practices.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is excited to offer an outstanding summer internship opportunity with our Office of Sustainable Practices (OSP). This internship provides college students with hands-on experience in sustainability initiatives, exposure to current environmental challenges facing Tennessee, and the chance to support research, policy development, and outreach efforts.

We are seeking a student with strong customer service skills who can assist with marketing and communications related to sustainability outreach. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required, and experience with design software is a plus.

This internship will follow a hybrid schedule with both remote and in-person work based out of Nashville. Applications for all TDEC summer internships are open until March 13. Learn more about the Office of Sustainable Practices Summer Internship below:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/job-announcements-/internships/00107448_osp_summer_26_general_intern_tdec-int-opp_ua.pdf

The State of Sustainability Podcast is back and better than ever! Episode 50 highlights Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and is live on YouTube. Our podcast now offers a video aspect to accompany each episode.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has published its report, "Addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) “Forever Chemicals” in Tennessee." This comprehensive analysis details PFAS sampling results from source water across the state, outlines health risks, and provides guidance for reducing exposure. Explore the full report and interactive resources to learn how Tennessee is working to protect public health and water quality.

Podcast Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckrQiWcXij8

You can find more information and the published reports here: https://www.tn.gov/environment/policy/pfas.html

TDEC's Deputy Commissioner Ronné Adkins helped kick off the 2026 Pick Tennessee Products Conference, highlighting that vibrant agriculture and a healthy environment go hand in hand. Pick TN embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation in Tennessee’s agricultural community.

TDEC’s Office of Sustainable Practices (OSP) also maintained a presence at the conference, encouraging Tennesseans to take action, reduce waste, and use resources wisely. OSP worked a booth and presented on our Tennessee Sustainable Spirits Program.

Learn more about the annual conference on their website: https://www.picktnconference.com/

Shoutout to our Tennessee State Parks teams for hosting the hardworking linemen that are in town to help restore power for Tennesseans that have been affected by the winter storms.

Thanks to the incredible dedication of our statewide partners and participants, Tennessee’s Zero Waste Day on October 27th was a monumental success!

Through coordinated takeback events across the state, we collectively diverted a massive volume of material from our landfills. We are thrilled to announce that we collected 5,311 pounds of difficult-to-recycle items! 🥳

🙏 A massive thank you to all of our partners who hosted the takeback events and to every single Tennessean who came out and participated! Your efforts truly made the difference.

👉 Let's keep this momentum going all year long! Remember to utilize the valuable resources and lessons learned from our Zero Waste TN educational materials throughout October and available on our website.

https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/sustainability/resources/waste.html -waste-resources