2nd Ave. Waste Master Plan

Overview

The 2nd Avenue revitalization project represents a groundbreaking approach to urban waste management, bringing together multiple stakeholders to create a waste master plan for Nashville's busiest historic downtown district. This initiative unites the goals of 40 businesses, 6 Metro Nashville departments, and various civic organizations to develop recycling and organics management solutions for this critical urban corridor. By transforming waste management from a logistical challenge into a financial opportunity, the plan addresses the unique challenges of a complex urban environment that includes Honky Tonks, restaurants, music venues, Airbnbs, and residential spaces—creating a replicable model for urban recycling and organics management.

Wilmot’s Role

Wilmot delivered a waste management strategy that reimagines downtown Nashville's environmental infrastructure. Through a research and design process involving multiple stakeholder groups, the team developed custom-designed waste management resources specifically for the 2nd Avenue district. The plan details the distribution of these resources to add recycling and composting to the district for the first time, with estimates for capital expenditures and operations.

The implementation strategy focuses on key elements including capital investments in collection systems and specialized machinery, financial subsidies to encourage recycling over landfilling, Metro support for creating a single organization to oversee operations and billing, and a phased approach aligned with the reopening of 2nd Avenue's South Block in 2025.

Wilmot's documentation includes detailed cost estimates, waste collection procedure guidelines, recycling center draft designs, and a complete operational handbook. By envisioning 2nd Avenue's transformation from hosting overflowing waste containers to becoming an attractive downtown destination, the project establishes a new standard for urban sustainability and collaborative planning.

To create a successful plan, Wilmot coordinated with:

  • Civic Design Center

  • Downtown Partnership

  • The District

  • Kimley-Horn

  • GHP

  • Civic Design Center

  • Planning Department

  • NDOT

  • Metro Parks & Recreation

  • Nashville Electric Service

  • Gaylord Entertainment

  • Hard Rock Cafe

  • Nashville Riverfront Lofts

  • Doc Holiday’s

  • Opry on 2nd

  • Wild Horse

  • French’s Shoes & Boots

  • The French House Rentals

  • Draft Kings

  • The Gallery

  • AVA Rooftop Bar

  • Butler’s Run

  • Leon’s Candy

  • Mike’s Ice Cream

  • Freebird Gift Shop and Bar

  • Pilcher Lofts

  • Prince & Hellinger, P.C.

  • Metro Nashville Public Defender

  • Coyote Ugly

  • Dick’s Last Resort

  • Studio 154 Luxury Hotel

  • T2

  • Chief’s

  • Downtown Nashville Wine & Spirits

  • Downtown Nashville Market

  • Lofts at 107

  • Big Jimmy’s

  • Market Street Mercantile

  • The Stillery

  • Big Shotz

  • Rhythm Room

  • Nashville Souvenir

  • Mattheessens Ice Cream & Cookies

  • Premier Parking

  • Agora International

Client

Metro Nashville Development & Housing Agency

Location

Nashville, TN

Markets

Municipal

Services

Waste Characterization Study

Technical Analysis

Materials Management

Community Engagement

  • Taco Bell

  • Sonder the Saddlery

  • Cerveza Jack’s

  • HH Tattoo

  • The Lounge on 2nd

  • Commerce St

  • Sbarro

  • Brugada

  • Another Broken Egg

  • Wild Beaver Saloon

  • Music City Wine & Spirits

  • White Front Garage

  • Mr. Pizza

  • The Hammonds Group

  • Anderson Design Group

  • Market Street Building

  • Modiste

  • Bankers Alley Hotel

  • Washington Square

  • Leviton

  • The Pilcher Building

  • Liquor Lab

  • Boot Barn