Recycling Centers in Tennessee

Find local recycling drop-off locations across Tennessee. Browse by city to see nearby facilities with hours and contact information.

217 Centers 81 Cities

Recycling in Tennessee

Tennessee has 217 recycling centers across 81 cities, the largest total in this guide, spanning county convenience centers, municipal drop-off sites, scrap yards, and electronics recyclers. Tennessee does not have a bottle-deposit law. Solid-waste and recycling policy is administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) through its Division of Solid Waste Management, and the state bans whole, unshredded tires from landfills, requiring every county to provide at least one waste-tire collection site funded by a $1.35 pre-disposal fee on new tires.

Recycling centers concentrate in the state's big metros. Nashville leads with 36 centers, followed by Knoxville with 16 and Murfreesboro with 14. Chattanooga lists 7, and Memphis lists 6.

Most Tennessee residents recycle at county and city convenience centers, which TDEC encourages for the common household items it groups under the acronym BOPAE: batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and electronics. County-run sites such as the Knox County Solid Waste Department and the Rutherford County Recycle Center accept these materials along with standard recyclables. TDEC's Waste Tire Program and Materials Management section oversee collection and diversion statewide.

Top Cities by Number of Centers

Nashville 36 Knoxville 16 Murfreesboro 14 Chattanooga 7 La Vergne 6 Memphis 6 Pulaski 6 Clarksville 5

All Cities in Tennessee

Alamo 1 center Antioch 1 center Ashland City 1 center Athens 1 center Bell Buckle 2 centers Brentwood 3 centers Cedar Hill 1 center Centertown 1 center Chapel Hill 1 center Chattanooga 7 centers Clarksville 5 centers Cleveland 2 centers Clinton 3 centers Collegedale 1 center Columbia 5 centers Cookeville 4 centers Cornersville 1 center Crossville 2 centers Dickson 1 center Dunlap 2 centers Ethridge 1 center Fairview 1 center Fayetteville 2 centers Franklin 5 centers Gallatin 2 centers Gatlinburg 1 center Greenback 1 center Harrison 1 center Henderson 1 center Hendersonville 3 centers Hermitage 2 centers Hixson 1 center Hohenwald 1 center Huntsville 1 center Jacksboro 1 center Jackson 1 center Joelton 1 center Johnson City 1 center Kingsport 1 center Knoxville 16 centers La Vergne 6 centers Lakewood 1 center Lascassas 1 center Lebanon 3 centers Lewisburg 4 centers Lexington 1 center Livingston 1 center Lobelville 1 center Lyles 1 center Lynnville 1 center Madison 5 centers Manchester 1 center Maryville 3 centers Mcminnville 2 centers Memphis 6 centers Millington 1 center Mt Juliet 2 centers Mt Pleasant 5 centers Murfreesboro 14 centers Nashville 36 centers Newport 1 center Paris 1 center Pelham 1 center Portland 1 center Pulaski 6 centers Puryear 1 center Red Bank 1 center Rockvale 1 center Scotts Hill 1 center Shelbyville 5 centers Signal Mountain 1 center Smyrna 2 centers Soddy Daisy 1 center South Pittsburg 1 center Spring Hill 1 center Thompsons Station 1 center Tullahoma 3 centers Unionville 1 center Wartburg 1 center Wartrace 1 center White Bluff 1 center

Recycling in Tennessee — FAQ

Does Tennessee have a bottle deposit?

No. Tennessee does not have a bottle bill or container-deposit law, so there is no refund for returning cans and bottles. Beverage containers are recycled through curbside programs and county or city convenience centers instead.

How do I recycle in Tennessee?

Use your county or city convenience center or a curbside program for standard recyclables plus TDEC's BOPAE items: batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and electronics. The directory lists 217 centers across 81 cities; accepted materials and hours vary by county, so confirm with the specific center before visiting.

Does Tennessee ban anything from landfills?

Yes. Whole, unshredded tires may not be landfilled in Tennessee. Every county must provide at least one waste-tire collection site, funded by a $1.35 pre-disposal fee charged on new tires at retail. Take old tires to a county collection site rather than the trash.

Where are the biggest recycling hubs in Tennessee?

Nashville is the largest hub with 36 listed centers, followed by Knoxville with 16 and Murfreesboro with 14. Chattanooga lists 7 and Memphis lists 6. These metros offer the widest mix of convenience centers, electronics recyclers, and scrap facilities in the state.