Recycling Centers in Knoxville, IA
Find drop-off recycling locations in Knoxville, Iowa. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
Residents of Knoxville, Iowa can use this directory to locate nearby recycling drop-off locations. Whether you have household recyclables or specialty items like electronics or batteries, the facilities listed here can help you dispose of materials responsibly.
Recycling in Knoxville: A Local Guide
Knoxville, the Marion County seat roughly 40 miles southeast of Des Moines, has two active recycling operations covering very different streams. Regional Recycling / Brown's Sanitation at 517 N Depot St is the city's public drop-off for everyday recyclables — #1 and #2 plastics, tin and aluminum cans, all paper types, cardboard, and glass containers (a material many rural Iowa programs no longer accept). It's open Monday–Friday 8 AM–3 PM and Saturday 8 AM–noon. For automotive and scrap-metal recycling, CJ Auto Salvage at 1596 Hwy T15 is an Iowa DOT-licensed vehicle recycler (R1865) that buys junk cars, dismantles vehicles, and sells used auto parts — a distinctly different service from household drop-off.
Marion County residents outside the city limits have additional options through SCISWA, the South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency, which operates a landfill recycling drop-off at 1736 Hwy T17 near Tracy accepting plastics #1–7, cans, paper, and cardboard (but not glass). The agency also coordinates e-waste and HHW events for the county — worth checking for electronics, paint, and hazardous materials that neither Knoxville facility handles.
Knoxville sits on US-14 in a cluster of Marion County communities. Nearby cities with recycling options in the region include Pella (about 17 miles northeast), Oskaloosa (about 25 miles east), Chariton (about 28 miles south), Indianola (about 23 miles northwest), and Newton (about 30 miles north). The Iowa recycling directory lists centers across the state if you need a specialized facility for materials not handled locally.
If you bring items to Brown's Sanitation, remember the early closing time — the center shuts at 3:00 PM on weekdays (not 5 PM). Glass is welcome here but note that plastic bags, styrofoam, and garbage are turned away. CJ Auto Salvage's Saturday window is shorter: 9 AM–noon. For questions about curbside pickup, Brown's Town & Country Sanitation can also arrange residential and commercial collection at (641) 842-4176.
All Recycling Centers in Knoxville
Recycling Centers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Knoxville
Where can I recycle glass bottles and jars in Knoxville, Iowa?
Take glass containers to Regional Recycling / Brown's Sanitation at 517 N Depot St — open Mon–Fri 8 AM–3 PM and Sat 8 AM–noon. The SCISWA landfill drop-off north of town does not accept glass.
Can I sell or recycle my junk car in Knoxville, IA?
CJ Auto Salvage at 1596 Hwy T15 is an Iowa DOT-licensed vehicle recycler that buys end-of-life vehicles and sells used parts. Call (515) 442-5609 to arrange a vehicle drop-off or pickup. Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM, Sat 9 AM–noon.
Where do I take electronics or hazardous waste from Knoxville?
Neither facility in Knoxville accepts electronics or household hazardous waste for public drop-off. Contact SCISWA for Marion County HHW and e-waste collection events, or check options in nearby Ottumwa or Grinnell.
Does Brown's Sanitation in Knoxville offer curbside recycling pickup?
Yes. Brown's Town & Country Sanitation provides residential and commercial curbside recycling and garbage collection in Knoxville and Marion County. Call (641) 842-4176 to set up service, separate from the drop-off center at 517 N Depot St.