Specialty Recycling and Donations Guide

Report trash, recycling or cart issues to (865) 215-4311 or [email protected]

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Makenzie Read
Waste and Resources Coordinator
[email protected]
865-215-2817


SPECIALTY RECYCLING AND DONATIONS GUIDE


We hope the information below helps to give your “waste” a second life while minimizing your contribution to the landfill!


HOLIDAY RECYCLING

The holidays bring families and friends together and are a wonderful time of year. Unfortunately, it is also the season when we typically generate extra waste. If you are unable to reuse the following materials please consider recycling them in your curbside cart or at a recycling drop-off center:
• Wrapping paper
Tissue paper
Gift bags
• Cardboard/ shoe boxes
Plastic containers: cups, bottles, milk/juice/detergent jugs, & caps (attached)
• Holiday cards
• Gift name tags
• Holiday cookie tins (clean and dry- consider reusing or donating if  still in usable condition)
*Not necessary to remove any staples or tape from these items for recycling

Holiday items NOT accepted for recycling:
• Plastic bags/ any plastic film such as, bubble wrap, plastic air pillows, etc.
Holiday ribbons and bows (please consider reusing these)
Any Styrofoam packaging (i.e., Styrofoam packaging peanuts, Styrofoam blocks, etc.)
• Any ceramic or porcelain materials
• Any glass items that are not glass jars/bottles (glass bottles/jars can be brought to any of the 5 City recycling drop-off centers)
• Any holiday cards/ gift name tags with glitter, or other non-paper materials on them

Please also consider donating any holiday decorations or no longer needed household goods to any of the relevant stores listed under the "Donate!" section.

For holiday tree and lights recycling please visit: Christmas Tree & Lights Recycling


DONATE!


DONATE VARIOUS ITEMS


There are numerous area organizations that will reuse or resell your gently used donations. Please call them directly or visit their websites for more information. Several have complimentary pick up. 


CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS


ANGELIC MINISTRIES: Visit AngelicMinistries.com or call 865-523-8884
Located at 1218 N. Central Street
• Serves those in our community who have lost their belongings due to a house fire or other natural disasters and those who are coming out of homelessness or abusive situations wishing to start their lives over and have a second chance

GOODWILL: Visit GoodwillKnoxville.org or call 865-588-8567

• Call 865-584-7726 to find out if you are eligible for a FREE pickup.
• Goodwill has both retail stores and drop-off locations (see website)
• Donations ONLY accepted during open hours to keep items from being destroyed due to weather, theft, etc.

KARM: Visit KARM.org/KARM-STORES or call 865-521-0770 x 1
• 
FREE pickup available with a 1-2 day turnaround for furniture and large donations
• There are 15 locations within Knoxville (locations shown on website)

LADIES OF CHARITY KNOXVILLE: Visit Ladiesofcharityknox.org or call 865-247-5790 
• 
Located at 120 W. Baxter Avenue
• Serves those struggling in our community who may need emergency assistance with daily necessities such as KUB utilities, food, clothing, medicine/ medical equipment, rent, gas, baby care items, and other miscellaneous household items
Please view their website for a full list of accepted items


FOOD 

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK: Visit secondharvestetn.org or call 865-521-0000
Located at 136 Harvest Ln, Maryville, TN, 37801
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee is leading the effort to compassionately feed East Tennessee’s hungry and engage the community in the fight against hunger. 
Find the closest food pantry by visiting secondharvestetn.org/find-a-food-pantry/ and find ongoing food drives at secondharvestetn.org/food-driver/ongoing/
In addition to donations of food, SHFB also accepts the following items:
-Working pallet jacks
-Working freezers & refrigerators
-Working & complete walk-in coolers & freezers


BICYCLES, USED BICYCLE PARTS, AND ACCESSORIES

KICKSTAND COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP: Visit https://kickstandknoxville.wixsite.com/kickstand or send an email to [email protected]

• Located at 1323 North Broadway
• KickStand Bicycle Collective is an all-volunteer initiative to put bicycles on the streets of Knoxville and surrounding area by operating community bike shops, teaching bike mechanics, maintenance, and safe practice.


BOOKS, CD'S, DVD'S, GAMES, RECORDS, ETC. 


MCKAY'S: Visit McKayBooks.com or call 865-588-033
• Located at 230 Papermill Pl Way
• Please visit website for a more in-depth description of acceptable items
• McKay’s may offer you money back for your items
*Many thrift stores will take these items for donation as well. 


APPLIANCES, FURNITURE, TOOLS, AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: Visit KnoxvilleHabitatForHumanity.com or call 865-690-4214 
• Located at 1511 Downtown West Boulevard
• Donations help families in our community become home owners
• Call to schedule a pickup if you are unable to bring donations to store

EYEGLASSES & SUNGLASSES (reusable or broken)

LION'S CLUB VISION PROGRAM: Visit TNlions.org or call 865-556-9091
• 
Multiple locations (such as Oak Ridge, Johnson City, and Maryville) have donation boxes to drop used glasses in
• Glasses, including those in poor condition, will be recycled and repurposed into new, free glasses for children in developing countries around the world 

SPECIALTY RECYCLING!

There are many non-traditional items that cannot be recycled through your curbside cart or at a recycling drop-off center. Please consider these other options for giving your "waste" a second life. 

• Visit Knoxvilletn.gov/recycling for further curbside or drop-off center recycling information.
• All accepted recyclable items should be placed loose (not in any plastic bags) in your curbside cart or brought to a drop-off center. 

GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS: Glass can only be recycled at the five City of Knoxville Recycling Drop-Off Centers. Visit knoxvilletn.gov/dropoffcenters for hours and more information. 

North: Goodwill Store - 5412 Pleasant Ridge Rd.
South: Chapman Highway - 225 W. Moody Ave.
East: Chilhowee Park/Magnolia Ave - 210 Alice St.
West: Cedar Bluff - 341 Parkvillage Rd.
Downtown: Old City - 227 Willow Ave.

STYROFOAM EGG CARTONS AND MEAT AND PRODUCE TRAYS: Take to any area Publix grocery store, three locations in Knoxville. 
• Please remove the plastic wrap and absorbent liner. Cartons and trays must be clean and dry. Packing and other large Styrofoam is not accepted. 

PLASTIC BAGS AND PLASTIC FILM: Using reusable grocery bags is much more sustainable than recycling plastic bags. Bread, tortilla, and other unavoidable plastic bags can be deposited at many local grocery stores (e.g., Kroger, Food City, Walmart, Publix, etc.) Markets for these low-grade plastics fluctuate but generally remain low; contact stores directly for information about whether plastic bags are being recycled at this time.

CHRISTMAS TREE AND LIGHTS:
• Please visit Christmas Tree & Lights Recycling for locations.

ELECTRONICS: The following locations accept various types of electronics. Please call or visit their website for more information.
• *Select Knox County Convenience Centers - visit KnoxCounty.org or call 865-215-5865. Dutchtown, Halls, John Sevier, and Karns are the ONLY accepted locations.
• *City of Knoxville Solid Waste Management Facility - 1033 Elm St., visit Solid Waste Management Facility or call 865-215-6700
• *University of Tennessee's Recycling Drop-Off Center - 2121 Stephenson Dr., Dock 24
• *Goodwill - visit Goodwill Knoxville or call 865-588-8567 (will only accept certain appliances)
• Best Buy - visit Best Buy
• Batteries + Bulbs - visit Batteries Plus Bulbs or call 865-770-3368 (will only accept certain appliances)

* These locations also accept broken holiday lights for recycling. 

CEILING TILES: Learn more about recycling your ceiling tiles at Armstrong Ceiling Solutions

JUNK CARS: Many local nonprofits will accept unwanted or junk vehicles and then sell them to help fund their worthy causes. Search online for participating Knoxville nonprofits to inquire.  

ORAL CARE: Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Office 
• 2743 Wimpole Ave, #B (bins located outside on deck)
• Visit Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Guide on Waste or call 865-521-6957
• Recycle all brands of used or empty oral care products and packaging to include:
-Toothbrushes (no electronic or battery-powered toothbrushes or parts accepted)
-Toothpaste tubes & caps
-Dental floss containers
• KKB has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle these items

KROGER-OWNED BRANDS FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PACKAGING: Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Office 
• 2743 Wimpole Ave, #B (bins located outside on deck)
• Visit Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Guide on Waste or call 865-521-6957
• Recycle Kroger-owned brands flexible plastic packaging such as:
-chip bags
-produce bags
-snack packaging
-frozen food packaging

*Please view KKB's website to see all of the Kroger-owned brands and associated items that can be recycled through this program
• KKB has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle these items

BIMBO BAKERIES USA BRANDS PLASTIC BAGS: 
Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Office 
• 2743 Wimpole Ave, #B (bins located outside on deck)
• Visit Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Guide on Waste or call 865-521-6957
• Recycle Bimbo Bakeries USA brands plastic bags such as those for:
-bread
-bagels
-buns
-English muffins
*Please view KKB's website to see a full list of Bimbo Bakeries USA brands that can be recycled through this program
• KKB has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle these items