Jenn Harrman develops policy and programs to help Nashvillians rethink, refuse, reuse, and recycle. As Zero Waste Program Manager for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and a public servant of over 7 years, her work centers on implementing sustainable, resilient, and equitable alternatives to landfill disposal for the benefit of all who live and work in Nashville.
Jenn’s career has focused on valuing both the natural environment and the resources it provides us, spending her early career in the non-profit sector at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Tennessee Preservation Trust. Her background in preserving historic buildings has given Jenn a unique perspective on construction and demolition waste, which has helped her develop strategies for Nashville to recycle and reduce waste from development projects.
Jenn also has extensive experience in community education and outreach, spanning over 10 years and across various sectors, that she brings to her work to educate Nashvillians. Due to her education and outreach initiatives, contamination in curbside recycling has dropped from 46% to 21%, the amount of compostable material collected at public drop-offs has doubled, stakeholders in the construction industry have supported new policy efforts to require recycling, and she has successfully launched a residential curbside food scraps collection program.