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Recycle Right Knoxville

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Hey Knoxville, do you recycle right? 


Why should you recycle right?

"Knox County taxpayers spend almost $2,000,000 per year to transport to and bury waste in a landfill forever while the revenue from the sale of recyclables can sometimes exceed $500,000 per year. Recycling helps offset significant expenses and helps keep taxes low." ​- From Knoxcounty.org

Items accepted in curbside recycling: 

Paper and cardboard
  • Newspaper, magazines, junk mail
  • Sticky notes, envelopes (not necessary to remove plastic windows)
  • Notebooks, office paper with or without staples and tape
  • Cereal boxes
  • Cardboard & cardboard tubes
  • Shredded paper (placed in a paper bag to prevent scattered pieces)
  • Books
Plastics
  • Rinsed plastic bottles and lids
  • Rinsed plastic cups
  • Rinsed plastic jugs, milk jugs, detergent containers​​
Metals
  • Rinsed aluminum cans (*Aluminum foil and baking pans are not accepted materials) 
  • Rinsed steel cans (no aerosol cans)​
  • Rinsed metal lids
Picture

Items NOT accepted in curbside recycling: 

Glass
  • Glass (must be taken to a city drop-off center in order to be recycled)
Plastic film & Other problematic plastics
  • All plastic bags
    • Grocery bags
    • Bread bags
    • Zip-top bags
    • Dry cleaning bags
    • ​Chip bags/candy wrappers (nothing with a silver inner lining)
  • The plastic wrap around many products including: paper plates, napkins, bathroom tissue, diapers, and more
  • Plastic straws/ utensils
  • Plastic toys​
  • Styrofoam
Hazardous waste
  • Batteries
  • Electronics
  • Hazardous waste​​
  • Latex paint
  • Medical waste
  • smoke detectors
  • Automotive Oil and Fuel 
  • Additives
  • Antifreeze
  • Bleach
  • Brake fluid
  • Car wax and cleaners
  • Carburetor and Fuel Injection Cleaners
  • Caulk
  • Cooking grease
  • Detergent
  • Drain openers
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Flea collars
  • Fluorescent tubes & compact fluorescent light bulbs
  • Fungicides/Wood Preservatives
  • Gasoline
  • Grease and Rust Solvents
  • Herbicides
  • Household cleaners
  • Insect repellant
  • Insecticide
  • Lighter fluid
  • Mercury Thermometers
  • Mothballs
  • Oven cleaner
  • Paint 
  • Paint stripper and removers
  • Paint thinner
  • Pesticides
  • Pet spray and dip
  • Pool chemicals
  • Propane Cylinders
  • Rat and mouse poison
  • Shoe polish
  • Spot remover
  • Spray paint cans
  • Stain
  • Starter Fluids
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Transmission fluid
  • Tub and tile cleaner
  • TVs 
  • Varnish
  • Weed killer
  • Windshield wiper fluid
Various household items 
  • Clothing
  • Ceramics
  • Dishes
  • Cords/water hoses
  • Light bulbs/holiday lights
  • Mirrors
  • Trash
  • Window glass
  • Yard waste
  • Wood
Picture
Residential Hazardous Waste Drop-off
​Got unwanted pharmaceuticals? See drop-off locations.

For all other recyclables not accepted in curbside recycling, visit these Convenience Centers:

  • County Centers:  (recyclables plus garbage, no glass)
  • Karns (no hazardous waste)                                                                6930 Karns Crossing Ln.                                      (865)215-5865
  • Carter                                                                                                            8815 Asheville Hwy                                               (865)215-5865
  • Dutchtown                                                                                                  10618 Dutchtown Road                                      (865)215-5865
  • Halls                                                                                                               3608 Neal Drive                                                      (865)215-5865
  • John Sevier                                                                                                 1950 W. Gov. John Sevier Hwy                         (865)215-5865
  • Powell                                                                                                           7311 Morton View Lane                                       (865)215-5865
  • Tazewell Pike / Gibbs                                                                            7201 Tazewell Pike                                                 (865)215-5865
  • City Centers:  (only accept recycling & glass)      
  • South Knoxville                                                                                       225 W Moody Ave.                                                  (865)-215-4311
  • Downtown Knoxville Recycling Center                                      227 Willow Ave.                                                        (865)215-4311
  • Northwest Knoxville                                                                              4440 Western Ave.                                                (865)-215-4311
  • East Knoxville                                                                                            210 Alice St                                                               (865)-215-4311
  • West Knoxville                                                                                          341 Parkvillage Rd                                                 (865)-215-4311 

  • UTK Recycling Center                                                                         2121 Stephenson Drive Dock 24                      (865) 974-3480
More info on Knoxville Convenience Centers
Take the Recycle right Knoxville quiz
Go zero waste

This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.
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Tennessee Environmental Council
​One Vantage Way Suite E-250
​Nashville, TN 37228 | 615-248-6500 | tec@tectn.org | Present at Office: 10 am - 4 pm M-Th. Fri 10 am - 1 pm
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • See Volunteer Opportunities & Events
    • Sustainable Tennessee >
      • Environmental Justice
      • Sustainable Tennessee Agenda
    • Come Post Your Compost >
      • Submit Compost Totals Here
      • Community Success Stories
      • Resources for Businesses
    • Generate Some Buzz
    • Recycle Tennessee >
      • Recycle Right Nashville
      • Recycle Right Knoxville
      • Recycle Right Oak Hill
      • Recycle Right Lebanon
    • Watershed Support Center >
      • Grassy Branch Creek Restoration Project
      • Lytle Creek Restoration Project
      • Duck River Opportunities Project
      • Stream Support and Consulting
      • Citizen Action Guide
    • Tennessee Tree Program >
      • Tennessee Tree Day 2021
      • Tennessee Chestnut Project
      • Useful Tree Resources >
        • Benefits of trees
      • Guidelines For A Tennessee Tree Project Event
      • Tennessee Tree Varieties We Have Planted
    • JOIN The Council Email List
    • Follow Us On Social Media
    • Intern with TEC
  • Donate & Ways to give
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Mission, Vision & Accomplishments >
      • 50 Years of Accomplishments
    • In The News