News Summary
Knoxville’s Waste and Resources Management team has announced that the Pleasant Ridge Recycling Center will now accept food scraps, expanding the city’s composting efforts. With this new addition, there are now five locations in Knoxville for residents to drop off food scraps aimed at reducing landfill waste and enriching community gardens. This initiative hopes to promote environmental consciousness among residents while also making recycling more accessible. Composting benefits the environment by turning waste into nourishing compost for local gardens.
Exciting News for Knoxville Residents: Food Scrap Collection Expands!
Knoxville is buzzing with some fantastic news for all the eco-conscious folks out there! The city’s Waste and Resources Management team has rolled out a new initiative that is sure to make recycling even easier and greener for everyone. The Pleasant Ridge Recycling Center has just joined the ranks of locations where residents can drop off food scraps for composting as part of the Knoxville Compost Project.
More Locations for Food Scrap Drop-Off
With this recent addition, there are now five convenient locations across the city for food scrap collection. This means less food waste ending up in landfills and more nourishing compost going back into our beautiful community gardens! The more, the merrier when it comes to collecting those food scraps, right?
Here’s a quick rundown of the locations where you can drop off your food scraps:
- Chilhowee Park/Magnolia Ave: 210 Alice St.
- Chapman Highway: 225 W. Moody Ave.
- Pleasant Ridge Recycling Center: 5412 Pleasant Ridge Rd.
- Cedar Bluff: 341 Park Village Rd.
What Can You Compost?
So, what can you actually toss into the food scrap collection bins? Here are the approved items that you can feel good about contributing:
- Uncooked fruits and vegetables
- Coffee grounds (including paper filters)
- Eggshells
- Nut shells
- Loose-leaf tea (exclude bags)
It’s great to know we can contribute items that would otherwise end up in the trash. Plus, there’s something uniquely satisfying about reducing food waste while helping the environment!
The Benefits of Composting
The Knoxville Compost Project is more than just a trendy initiative; it’s an essential step towards a sustainable future for our city. The aim is to significantly minimize the amount of food waste we send to landfills. Instead, these collected food scraps are composted at local farms and then used to enrich community gardens throughout Knoxville. This system promotes ecological awareness and encourages residents to be more conscious about their food waste.
New Drop-Off Options in the Old City
Now, if you were a fan of dropping off your food scraps at the Old City recycling center, there’s a little update for you. This location was removed from the list of food scrap collection centers back on March 19 due to some parking changes in the nearby Willow Ave. lot. But don’t worry, you can now conveniently take your food scraps to the Old City Garden at 300 E. Depot Ave.
Residents using the Old City location have several options available for recycling:
- Sign up for free residential curbside recycling by calling 311 or making an online request at KnoxvilleTN.gov/recycling.
- Recycle at one of the City’s other recycling centers listed above.
- Check out the University of Tennessee’s Public Recycling Drop-Off at 2121 Stephenson Dr. Dock 24, which is open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
Join the Movement!
With these new changes, now is the perfect time for Knoxville residents to take part in this movement toward sustainability. It feels good to know that by composting food scraps, we are nurturing our community and helping the environment at the same time.
For additional questions or information, you can hop on the City’s website. So let’s roll up our sleeves and contribute to Knoxville’s greener future – one food scrap at a time!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Knox News: Knoxville Recycling for Christmas
- Google Search: Knoxville recycling initiatives
- WBIR: Where to Dispose of Christmas Trees
- Wikipedia: Recycling
- WBIR: Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling Fire Follow-Up
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Recycling
- Knox News: Knoxville Police Test Explosives Disposal Plan
- Google News: Knoxville Christmas tree disposal
