Williamson County Leaders Among Top Winners at 2025 Tennessee Recycling Awards
TRC’s Amber Greene and Caleb Powell flank Keep Williamson Beautiful’s Belinda Grace Brooks at 2025 TRC Awards Event
NASHVILLE, TENN. (Sept. 2, 2025) – The Tennessee Recycling Coalition is pleased to announce the 2025 Recycler of the Year Awards, naming three Williamson County organizations in the elite group of winners. This program recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses in Tennessee that have demonstrated a commitment to and outstanding achievement in waste prevention and recycling.
Williamson County Solid Waste Department was named Government Recycler of the Year. The organization has created an innovative mattress recycling program in partnership with Spring Back Mattress Recycling, a socially and economically viable non-profit. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the Williamson County Solid Waste Department,” Director Belinda Grace Brooks, Keep Williamson Beautiful, said. “This award recognizes the work that has been done to remove mattresses from our Construction and Demolition Landfill and MSW transfer station, thanks to our partnership with Spring Back Mattress Recycling…”
The Green Team
The Green Team in Williamson County was named Non-Profit Recycler of the Year. This group of leaders and students create sessions and awareness programs to educate people on reusing, upcycling, and using compost for their food waste, including partnering with Keep Williamson Beautiful. “It’s an honor for the Green Team to be recognized by TRC,” Director Shelly Lalani said. “I truly believe that educating the next generation will create a long-lasting footprint on Mother Earth.”
This year’s TN Top Leader award was presented to India Savage, environmental engineer at Spring Hill’s GM plant. India is responsible for weekly and monthly environmental inspections and audits to ensure the plant is compliant with all environmental regulations. India also spearheaded an Electronic Waste Scrap Recycling event for employees that resulted in almost two metric tons of electronic waste recycled. “It is heartwarming to know my passions are appreciated from the intern level, the GM Spring Hill Manufacturing leadership level, and the statewide level,” India Savage said. “I am truly grateful for this recognition and excited to continue driving positive impact in our community and on the environment. Thank you for the award, TRC.”
L to R – Amber Greene, India Savage, Caleb Powell
Additional awards include the Business Recycler of the Year, presented to Davidson County’s WM, the Tom Hattle Memorial Award presented to Putnam County’s Doug Ashburn and the Bob Fletcher Memorial Award Scholarship presented to John Morgan, a freshman at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.
Caleb Powell, Tennessee Sustainability Conference director and TRC chairman of the board, along with TRC Executive Director Amber Greene, presented the awards during the annual conference held at Gatlinburg’s Park Vista Hotel. The collaborative event was organized by TRC, the TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tennessee Environmental Conference
Visit TRC for more information.
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