Recycling

725 Universal Street
(865) 380-4815; After hours (865) 380-4921

Residential Recycling

Weekly curbside recycling service is provided to all Alcoa residents. An 18-gallon container is provided by the City.

On October 1, 2008, Waste Connections, the City’s residential recycle contractor, began accepting a wider range of acceptable items for residential curbside recycling. Waste Connections is now able to accept additional items by their switching to single-stream recycling.

Recycling Schedule

Below are guidelines for using the City residential recycling container:

• The container must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
• The following materials may be put in the container:
  • Newspapers & inserts
  • Aluminum, steel & tin cans
  • All colors of glass
  • #1 through #7 plastics (examples: milk jugs & soft drink bottles; check the bottoms of other plastic containers for either the number “1” through “7” inside a triangle.)
  • Magazines and paperback books
  • Telephone books or junk mail
  • Cardboard & corrugated cardboard
• The following materials may not be put in the container:
  • Window glass & mirrors
  • Light bulbs
  • Pots, pans or oven cookware
  • Styrofoam, even if coded with the recycle triangle

Questions and Answers Regarding the Expanded Recycling Program

1. What is single-stream recycling?

When utilizing single-stream recycling all recycled materials are mixed together in the collection trucks and are then sorted at the automated processing facility located in Knoxville. This simplifies things for residents who will not have to worry about sorting any items.

2. How much does all this cost?

There is no additional cost to the city or its residents.

3. Why do this?

It makes recycling even easier for Alcoa’s residents. The addition of these materials will significantly increase each household’s recycling volume, therefore adding life to the Alcoa / Maryville / Blount County Landfill. With this wider range of materials that can be recycled and the convenience of curbside recycling, Alcoa’s residents continue to demonstrate increased environmental stewardship while leading their neighbors in Blount County and throughout most of east Tennessee.

4. What additional items can be recycled?

The additions include office paper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, phone books, file folders, paperback books, comic and coloring books, paperboard along with corrugated cardboard.

Formerly, only clear, brown and green glass bottles could be accepted, now all colors of glass are accepted, and finally, plastics 1-7 and plastic bags can now be recycled.

And, of course, newspapers and inserts, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, steel and tin cans are still accepted.

5. I shred my junk mail. Is that ok?

Yes, shredded paper is acceptable.

6. What if I have broken glass, can I put that in my bin?

No, broken glass is not accepted due to handling of the material at the sorting center.

7. How do I know if my plastic is a 1 or a 7 and what difference does it make?

If it is a recyclable plastic item, there will be an identification code number inside the triangle shaped recycle logo, such as this:

This is generally located on the bottom of the item. To the consumer, the number doesn’t mean much but for recyclers it is a means to identify the resin content of bottles and containers in the recycle stream.

8. What are the different kinds of plastics?

Generally speaking, a number 1-coded bottle, for example is, a plastic drink bottle; salad dressing and catsup bottles; peanut butter, jelly and jam jars; and ovenable film and trays – those that can be heated such as in a microwave.

A number 2 item would be milk, water, and juice containers; and also those for cosmetics, shampoos, laundry products; yogurt and margarine tubs; cereal box liners; and grocery, trash and retail bags, food storage bags and trash bags like Hefty and Glad as well as plastic wrap like Saran wrap.

Number 3 items, are seen less frequently and are things like clear food and non-food packaging.

Number 4 products include frozen food bags, squeezable bottles like those for honey and mustard.

Number 5 plastics can hold items already mentioned like catsup bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, and medicine bottles.

Number 6 categories include grocery store plastic meat trays, aspirin bottles, cups, plates and cutlery.

Items coded as a # 7 might include three and five gallon reusable water bottles, and some citrus juice and catsup bottles.

9. Can I get an extra container to put all these additional items in?

Yes, by dropping by the Municipal Building, residents may purchase an extra 14-gallon bin from the City for $10. Alcoa citizens may also use other similar bins purchased at local stores or simply use plastic bags for the excess items.

10. Is there anything I can’t recycle?

• No type of Styrofoam can be recycled even Styrofoam that has that has the recycle logo and number on it.
• No type of light bulb
• No porcelain, pottery and ceramic products
• No aerosol cans
• No mixed containers such as those for nuts and snacks that have some plastic and some paper board and foil
• No broken glass

11. Can I recycle containers that have had such things as insecticides, herbicides, motor oil and additives, antifreeze, Clorox and other household cleaners in them?

Yes, as long as they have been washed out and the container has the 1-7 code on it.

12. Is the drop-off recycling center still open?

Yes, it is located at the corner of Springbrook Road and Edison Streets and it open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The drop off center has containers for magazines, newspapers & inserts, cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, steel and tin cans, clear, brown & green glass bottles and used motor oil.

13. Can I recycle the same things there?

No, but you can recycle newspapers, magazines and phonebooks, aluminum cans; clear, brown and green glass bottles; and #1 & #2 plastics. A separate container is provided for recycling cardboard. A tank is also provided for recycling motor oil.

14. Who can I call if I have any questions?

Residents can learn more about acceptable and unacceptable materials at the Waste Connection website, www.WasteConnectionsTn.com. Questions may also be directed to Alcoa’s Sanitation Services Division at 380-4815.