The Tennessee Recycling Coalition will hold its third annual Women's Environmental Leadership Summit Nov. 9-10, 2026, at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The two-day program targets women working across the recycling industry, sustainability programs, and the health and environmental protection sector, as well as those seeking leadership roles in community recycling operations. The coalition opened registration through its website.

"The Women's Environmental Leadership Summit is a unique opportunity to bring women from across Tennessee and other states together to connect, learn, share ideas and inspire one another," says Amber Greene, executive director of the Tennessee Recycling Coalition. "This event is about celebrating the women who are leading change in the environmental field, while creating new opportunities for professional growth, collaboration and leadership."

The summit format splits into two distinct days. Day one features speakers, interactive educational sessions, and networking with women from Tennessee and other states working in environmental fields. Day two shifts toward site visits that connect the professional development agenda to Tennessee's industrial and institutional infrastructure.

Attendees can take a guided tour of the Y-12 National Security Complex itself. The coalition describes Y-12 as a premier manufacturing facility that plays a vital role in the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Security Enterprise. The venue choice places the recycling sector's workforce development conversation inside one of the federal government's most significant materials-handling and manufacturing sites.

The program also includes a special tour of the historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee — an unusual pairing that gives attendees a look at the state's institutional history alongside the federal facility.

Now in its third year, the summit has become a fixture on the coalition's calendar for workforce and leadership development in the state's recycling sector. The event draws participants from municipal programs, industry, and environmental agencies, reflecting the range of organizations handling material streams across Tennessee.

Women interested in attending can register and find program details through the Tennessee Recycling Coalition's website.

The next milestone to watch: registration ahead of the Nov. 9 opening session at Y-12, which will indicate how the event's footprint grows in its third year.