Knoxville curbside recycling to stop accepting glass

The City of Knoxville will no longer be accepting glass as part of its curbside recycling program. 

Starting January 1, residents are being asked to bring glass items to any of the city's five drop-off recycling centers. 

In a post on its website, the city explained that in the current process, glass placed in curbside carts ends up breaking into small pieces once at the recycling facility. 

"It's a fairly low quality product and its getting more and more difficult to find a home for that. So there's an increased chance that it's going to be landfilled and not recycled," said Rachel Butzler, Knoxville Solid Waste Recycling Manager.

That mixed product also costs more to be recycled, if that's even possible.

“Many communities across the country have reached the same conclusion – that placing glass in single stream, with other recyclable materials like plastic, paper and aluminum, is not the best way to recycle glass,” said Butzler.

The change also affects any "single-stream receptacle" serviced by the city of Knoxville, including those located in public parks, downtown or in other public spaces. 

She added that because the glass gets broken and commingled, its value goes down and there's no market for it. However, if glass is separated by color and brought to one of the city's recycling centers, its value is much higher. 

They say they realize curbside pickup is convenient -- but say it just isn't working any more.

Residents are also asked to give feedback about ways to improve the operation at the drop-off recycling centers. Click here to take part in the survey. 

LOCATIONS OF CITY DROP-OFF CENTERS

NORTH: Kroger at I-640 Plaza - 4440 Western Ave.
SOUTH: Goodwill at W. Moody Ave. - 225 W. Moody Ave.
EAST: Goodwill at Chilhowee Park - 210 Alice St.
WEST: Goodwill at Cedar Bluff - 341 Parkvillage Rd.
DOWNTOWN: Downtown Recycling Center - 227 Willow Ave.