KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville offers free curbside recycling for many residents, but city leaders say confusion about what can and cannot be recycled remains common.
The City of Knoxville provides recycling service to households within city limits that already receive city trash pickup. Residents can request a recycling cart at no additional cost, as the program is funded through local taxes. However, not all materials are accepted through curbside service — especially glass.
Glass bottles and jars are recyclable in Knoxville, but they are not accepted in curbside bins. Instead, residents must take them to one of the city’s recycling drop-off centers. Waste and Resources Manager MaKenzie Read said the city removed glass from curbside collection in 2017 due to processing challenges…