Recycling in Cookeville, TN

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Solid Waste and Recycling (opens in new tab) · Putnam County Solid Waste and Recycling
  • The Putnam County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is at 2101-A West Jackson St, Cookeville, TN 38501, phone (931) 400-0622. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; nothing is accepted without staff present. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Putnam County Solid Waste and Recycling only accepts waste generated in Putnam County. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Putnam County Solid Waste main office, transfer station and recycle center is at 1846 S. Jefferson Ave, Cookeville, TN 38506. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Transfer Station/Recycle Center at 1846 South Jefferson Ave is open Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m., phone 931-528-3884. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Convenience centers accept household waste, used oil, cardboard, metal and appliances, furniture, and mattresses and box springs. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Convenience centers cannot accept tires, construction waste or hazardous waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • No out-of-county waste is accepted, and convenience centers are for residential household trash only. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Construction and demolition waste, brush and all tires (off the rim) go to the landfill. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Landfill tipping fee is $50.00 per ton. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Residential Garbage Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Cookeville Public Works
  • Bulky items such as appliances or furniture are collected separately on the first and third Tuesdays of each month by calling 931-520-5201. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Cookeville Public Works
  • Cardboard is accepted for recycling; break it down and flatten it if possible. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Recycling drop-off sites at East Stevens and Lowe (335 E Stevens Street) and Whitson Avenue (760 Whitson Avenue) are open 24 hours a day. Checked October 26, 2026.
• ReStore (opens in new tab) · Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity
  • Accepted items include housewares, appliances, furniture, books, tools and exercise equipment less than 10 years old. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not accepted: mattresses and box springs, sleeper sofas and futons, used paint and entertainment centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Donations are accepted Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with free pickup for larger items within 30 miles of the store. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Donations (opens in new tab) · Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee
  • Goodwill Middle Tennessee lists appliances, electronics, exercise equipment and furniture among the items it accepts. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill Middle Tennessee accepts TVs only if they are flat screens. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tube/box-shaped televisions are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Furniture that is broken, damaged or stained is not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill Middle Tennessee does not accept mattresses, box springs, sleeper sofas or futon cushions. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Donated items should be in working order and in good, clean condition. Checked October 26, 2026.
• TDEC Materials Management: Household Hazardous Waste Program (HHW) (opens in new tab) · Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
  • Alkaline batteries sold after May 13, 1996 have no added mercury and may go in the regular trash in Tennessee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Use up or give away latex paint, or dry it with kitty litter, sawdust or shredded paper and put it in the regular garbage. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tennessee's Mobile HHW Collection Service has run since 1993, is open to Tennessee citizens and is limited to households. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Any Tennessee resident may use the service; only household waste is accepted, not commercial, institutional or agri-business waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Mobile HHW collections no longer take alkaline batteries, paint or electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For paint, TDEC tells residents to contact their local solid waste department. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For electronics, TDEC tells residents to contact their local solid waste department. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Very small quantity generator businesses may use mobile events only by paid appointment through the state contractor. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • VSQG disposal is priced by material type, generally per pound. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • TDEC says rechargeable batteries and cell phones can be recycled and points residents to the Call2Recycle website to find a collection site. Checked October 26, 2026.
• TDEC Materials Management: Household Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze, and Electronics (BOPAE) (opens in new tab) · Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
  • Lithium batteries must not go in the trash or in recycling containers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries need to be recycled and cannot go in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tape the terminals of lithium batteries with non-conductive tape (electrical, packing or duct tape) before storing or recycling them. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • It is illegal to put wet latex paint in a Tennessee landfill; once completely dried, latex paint may go in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Oil-based paint from households is household hazardous waste and cannot go in the trash; use it up, give it away or take it to a county paint collection facility if one exists. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Call2Recycle recycles nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion and small sealed lead batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Call2Recycle identifies locations that accept rechargeable batteries and cell phones for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.