Data Centers and Their Environmental Impact
News Annah Kelley News Annah Kelley

Data Centers and Their Environmental Impact

Data centers for internet computing, especially with the rapid upsurge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are a hot topic and seem to be popping up – or at least being planned – everywhere, especially The Deep South.

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Sampling for Microplastics — Microplastics Program Update – part 1 of 2
Annah Kelley Annah Kelley

Sampling for Microplastics — Microplastics Program Update – part 1 of 2

In late 2018 Tennessee Riverkeeper (TRK) ramped up our involvement in the microplastics (mp) clamor. Plastic straws and single use were the hottest of topics in our circles. Earlier that year, the Tennessee River had been labeled as a highly mp-contaminated river, surpassing the Rhine and Yangtze; the latter of which turned out not to be accurate. 

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Toxic Tires Threaten Water Quality
Annah Kelley Annah Kelley

Toxic Tires Threaten Water Quality

Tires negatively impact water quality. They are frequently discarded in the environment by individuals or companies trying to avoid small tire disposal fees (usually around $5 per tire). Tires have to be shredded at a special facility before going into a landfill, hence the disposal fee.

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2025 Annual update
Annah Kelley Annah Kelley

2025 Annual update

2025 was a challenging year. However, thanks to supporters like you, 2025 was a productive and successful year for Tennessee Riverkeeper. We celebrated 15 years of protecting water and combatting pollution. We have one of the most active environmental litigation programs in the United States. We have also continued to educate hundreds of thousands of citizens about water quality and the threats from pollution with our presence in the news media and our use of social media platforms. Your ongoing support is crucial for us to continue this work into 2025. 

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Tennessee Riverkeeper November Newsletter Recap
Jeremy Mattingly Jeremy Mattingly

Tennessee Riverkeeper November Newsletter Recap

Tennessee Riverkeeper's November newsletter brings major news on the "Dirt Mountain" illegal dump case—Metro Nashville Codes just issued a stop work order after a jury ruled it was operating as an unpermitted landfill. The organization filed two new pollution cases this month (Springfield and Luttrell) and now has 14 active lawsuits on their docket. Mark Martin and David Whiteside represented Tennessee Riverkeeper at the annual Waterkeeper Conference in Pittsburgh, sharing expertise on everything from PFAS to community organizing. With nearly 50,000 supporters across their social media channels and continued settlements being reached with polluting cities, Tennessee Riverkeeper is heading into the giving season asking for support to make 2026 another year of holding polluters accountable.

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Tennessee Riverkeeper October Newsletter Recap
Jeremy Mattingly Jeremy Mattingly

Tennessee Riverkeeper October Newsletter Recap

Tennessee Riverkeeper's October newsletter shows they're not slowing down—they just scored a major legal victory forcing the EPA to reconsider outdated pollution standards, and they're managing 13 active cases against polluters across Tennessee and Alabama. Several settlements have been reached, including Lebanon finally fixing their landfill discharge problem and Monterey building a new sewage treatment plant. Meanwhile, they're looking for volunteers to help with their growing outreach program as they celebrate 15 years of protecting drinking water for over 6.3 million people across the South. From fighting illegal dump sites to tackling single-use plastic pollution with the Orion Amphitheater, Tennessee Riverkeeper continues holding polluters accountable.

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Check Out Our Summer Newsletter!
Jeremy Mattingly Jeremy Mattingly

Check Out Our Summer Newsletter!

  • A federal court win on pollution standards, 9,500 lbs of trash removed, and fresh volunteer energy—see what moved the needle this summer. Read the recap →

  • Legal action, big cleanups in Huntsville & Nashville, and growing outreach at The Orion Amphitheater—here’s August at a glance. Read more →

  • Stronger protections for our rivers plus thousands of pounds of litter removed. Catch the highlights and how to get involved. Read more →

  • From a landmark court decision to hands-on river cleanups, this Summer Newsletter covers the wins and what’s next. Read the recap →

  • Cleaner water, less plastic, more people pitching in—see the August highlights in one quick read. Read more →

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