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How and Where to Recycle

Not sure what goes where? This page breaks down what you can recycle, how to recycle common materials, and where to take them in Blount County, making it easy to reduce waste the right way.

What to

Recycle

Accepted Items for Recycling in Blount County

Paper and cardboard
  • Mixed paper including office paper, junk mail, magazines, paperboard boxes and packaging, paper bags, newspaper, wax-coated cartons and cups, paper towel rolls, paper egg cartons, clean pizza boxes, and paperback books
  • Corrugated cardboard including delivery boxes and moving boxes
 
Metal
  • Aluminum cans
  • Steel cans
 
Plastic
  • Plastics #1 and #2

Note:Currently, there is no “end market” buyer for #3-#7 plastics, so they are not being recycled. However, these plastics can be easily sorted out and will not harm the system if accidentally placed in a recycling bin. Please do not put plastic bags, wrap, or film in the recycling bins.

 
Glass (Blount County Recycling Center ONLY)
  • Any color glass

Notes: Glass does not need to be sorted by color, but please remove caps and lids. Metal lids from jars can be put in the single stream bin. No laminated glass, pottery, or ceramics. Do not put glass in any bin but the one provided at the Blount County Recycling Center.

Unaccepted Items

  • Plastic bags, wrap, film, or bubble wrap
  • Paper towel and napkins
  • Disposable utensils
  • Food wrappers and bags, including mylar packaging
  • Aluminum foil and disposable pans
  • Styrofoam
  • Aerosol cans
  • Metal hangers
  • Scrap metal (other than metal cans)
  • Food waste or excessive residue
  • Hazardous waste, electronics, lightbulbs, batteries, tires, hoses, and cords

Glass is only accepted at the Blount County Recycling Center in the bin labeled "Glass Only".

Please do not put glass in any other recycling bin including curbside recycling bins and bins at the City of Maryville recycling centers.

How to

Recycle

1.

Rinse

Rinse and remove food residue from recyclables as best you can.

2.

Mix

Recycling in Blount County is single stream and does not need to be sorted by material with the exception of glass, corrugated cardboard, and newspaper at the Blount County Recycling Center.

3.

Unbag

If your recycling is bagged, dump the recycling out of the bag when depositing it into the recycling bin. Recycling should never go in a recycling bin bagged.

ONLY what is listed as accepted can be put in the recycling bin to avoid contamination. Please refer to this webpage or contact Keep Blount Beautiful if you have questions about recycling.

Where to

Recycle

Blount County

The Blount County Recycling Center accepts recycling from the City of Alcoa, the City of Maryville, and Blount County residents.

This facility has four separate containers:

  • Single Stream – Mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, and #1 &#2 plastic
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Newspaper
  • Glass
Accepted Items

City of Alcoa

Curbside recycling is provided through City of Alcoa Sanitation and Recycling.

City of Alcoa Residential Recycling

City of Maryville

The City of Maryville operates two single-stream recycling centers that accept recycling from City of Maryville residents and property owners only.

City of Maryville Sanitation

Other Items for

Recycling

Scrap Metal
 
Tires
 
Plastic bags and film
 
Styrofoam
  • Publix (2010 Town Center Blvd. Knoxville/ 865-470-0720)- Limited to clean egg cartons, takeout trays, cups, and meat trays.
 
Vienna Coffee Company coffee bags

*Call or check website for a complete list of accepted items and other important information

When In Doubt

Throw It Out

or contact Keep Blount Beautiful for assistance

All recycling in Blount County is managed by the City of Alcoa, the City of Maryville, and Blount County. Keep Blount Beautiful provides local recycling information as a public service. Contact the Keep Blount Beautiful office with questions.

Recycling FAQs