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Recycling in Knoxville, TN

City of Knoxville crews pick up bulky items such as furniture, appliances and tires off the rim after residents call 311 for a "bulky alert". The city's Solid Waste Facility at 1033 Elm Street houses a fee-based transfer station and a free household hazardous waste facility. City residents may also use Knox County's seven free convenience centers.

Knox County · How we check

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Drop-off places in Knoxville

Services for Knoxville residents

Where this information comes from (60)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • Convenience Centers (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • There are no fees to use Knox County Convenience Centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The centers are only for Knox County residents bringing their own residential waste and recycling; businesses, rental-property waste and contractors are sent to paid facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Non-recyclable household waste is limited to one standard 5x8 pickup load per household per day. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky Do-It-Yourself Demolition Waste (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Box springs, couches, furniture, mattresses and tables are accepted as bulky waste, up to one 5x8 pickup load per day. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Mattresses are on the list of accepted bulky items. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Waste from outside Knox County is not accepted; users need a Knox license plate or proof of residency. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Knox County Recycling Program (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Cardboard (shipping boxes, cereal boxes, pizza boxes) is accepted for recycling at the centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Scrap Metal (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • The scrap metal area takes dishwashers, microwaves, washers, dryers, water heaters, stoves, grills, mowers, exercise equipment and other metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Washers, dryers, hot water heaters, stoves and grills go in the scrap metal area. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Exercise equipment, shelving, metal pipes and metal doors are accepted as scrap metal. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Refrigerant Containing Devices (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Devices that contained refrigerant, such as refrigerators and freezers, are not accepted at Convenience Centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Solid Waste FAQs (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Televisions are accepted as trash in the blue compactors if the user can place them into the compactor box. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Electronic Waste (e-waste) (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • America's Thrift Store runs e-waste drop-offs at the Halls, Karns and John Sevier centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The e-waste drop-offs take gently used small electronics (radios, DVD players, stereos, speakers, gaming systems, smartphones) in good working condition. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Automotive and other lead-acid batteries are collected in a cage near the attendant office. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Rechargeable, button, hearing-aid and lithium batteries are accepted in labeled buckets. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Non-rechargeable alkaline batteries can go in household trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tire Recycling (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Up to eight passenger and light-truck tires per person per year may be left at any center; 8-20 tires need pre-authorization. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • More than 20 tires, large commercial or agricultural tires, and business tires must go to a commercial waste tire disposal site. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Paint Disposal (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
    • Completely dried latex paint cans may be brought without lids for operator inspection and then placed in the bulky compactor. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Oil and lead-based paint and stain must go to the Household Hazardous Waste facility at 1033 Elm Street. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky Waste (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • Bulky waste includes furniture, tires with rims removed, appliances and other approved household items too large for the garbage cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Residents may set out up to five bulky items per week; if more are set out none are collected. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Place a "bulky alert" by calling 311 before setting items out at the curb where the trash cart goes; allow up to two business days. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerant appliances are collected only if certified personnel drained the coolant and tagged the item; otherwise take them to the Solid Waste Facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Tires are picked up only if removed from their rims. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Cardboard boxes are not bulky waste; break them down for the recycling cart or recycle free at the 12 City, County or UT drop-off centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Curbside Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • Households inside city limits with four or fewer units on a parcel are eligible for the City's free curbside recycling program (sign up online or call 311). Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Flattened cardboard goes in the curbside recycling cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Drop-Off Centers (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • There are four City of Knoxville recycling drop-off centers: 5412 Pleasant Ridge Road, 225 W Moody Avenue, 210 Alice Street and 341 Parkvillage Road. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Flattened cardboard is accepted at the City drop-off centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Transfer Station (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • The Transfer Station is at 1033 Elm Street, Knoxville, TN 37921, phone 865-215-6700. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Wednesday 7-11:45 a.m.; Saturday 8-11:45 a.m.; closed Sunday. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Solid Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • Residents and businesses can dispose of a wide variety of materials at the Solid Waste Facility, which houses the Transfer Station and the HHW Facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
    • The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is at 1033 Elm Street, Knoxville, TN 37921, phone 865-215-6710. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • HHW hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Wednesday 7-11:45 a.m.; Saturday 8-11:45 a.m.; closed Sunday. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • There is no fee to drop off accepted household hazardous waste; businesses, nonprofits and churches must contract privately. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Donate (opens in new tab) · Goodwill Industries-Knoxville, Inc.
    • Goodwill lists Cedar Bluff Convenience Center (Donation Express) at 341 Park Village Road, Knoxville, TN 37923. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Goodwill lists Bearden/Northshore Donation Express at 418 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Donate (opens in new tab) · Knoxville Habitat for Humanity ReStore
    • The Knoxville Habitat ReStore is at 1511 Downtown West Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37919, phone (865) 690-4214. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Donations are accepted 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Free donation pickup can be scheduled online or by calling 865-690-4214. 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.
    • Residents of Knox, Hamilton, Davidson, Putnam and Shelby counties may also use the permanent HHW site in their county. 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.

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