Support Us Button Widget

How to keep hard-to-recycle items out of landfills in Chattanooga

From car batteries and laptops — here are some ways to properly recycle uncommon items in the Scenic City.

NOOGAtoday | Overlooked Materials

Think about using local recycled products for your next landscaping project.

Photo by NOOGAtoday

In honor of Global Recycling Day on Tuesday, March 18, we’re sharing some ways to look at your trash in a new light.

Chattanooga has five recycling centers + offers curbside pickup for common items like aluminum cans and cardboard — but what can you do with the items that aren’t accepted?

Instead of throwing away items like car batteries or electronics that will end up in our landfills, here are some ways to properly recycle them in Chattanooga.

Hefty ReNew Program
Chattanooga is one of the communities that is part of this recycling program that collects hard-to-recycle plastics (think: foam to-go boxes, plastic utensils, bubble wrap, plastic grocery bags, and more).

Request a drop-off starter kit + your bags can be dropped off at any of the city’s recycling centers.

CMC Recycling
This company has been offering scrap metal recycling services in Chattanooga for over 50 years. Additionally, you can recycle items like automotive lead batteries insulated wires, and other nonferrous scrap metal items.

STS Electronic Recycling
If you have an old computer, laptop, LSD screen, or telephone lying around, this spot offers free recycling services for unwanted or unused electronics.

Overlooked Materials
This company offers curbside glass recycling services + turns your glass into sand and gravel that can be used in the community for landscaping and construction.

Tire Recovery Center
You can head to this center on Standifer Gap Road to recycle a passenger tire for $1 + a truck tire for $4. Call 423-602-8473 to schedule an appointment prior to arriving.

Bonus: Keep an eye out for BBB’s bi-annual Shred Day on Saturday, April 5 where you can bring documents for on-site shredding, hard drives for destruction, prescription drugs for safe disposal, and other electronics for recycling.

Have another uncommon item you’re looking to recycle? Let us know what we missed and we’ll add where to properly recycle it to our list.

More from NOOGAtoday
Southside’s 24-hour festival, MAINx24, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 this year. Here’s the need-to-know-info.
From luxury treehouses to cozy cottages, Chattanooga is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels.
Thanksgiving season is here — fill your plate with community and gratitude.
Spoiler alert: It’s not great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Check out some dine-in and carry-out options for Thanksgiving dinner this year.
New vehicle detection technology is expected to help traffic flow more smoothly and improve safety across the city.
Over the next 10 days, we’re launching a reader-driven campaign to sustain what we do best.
Whether you’re a retired service member or active-duty, these places are extending a “thank you” with special offers.
Run or walk for a cause this holiday season.
To help make your entire process at the Chattanooga Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s nine nonstop flights.