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From Sept. 6-10, the City of Chattanooga Department of Public Works is issuing a single curbside recycling collection on an emergency basis. Let’s break down the what, why, and where of Chattanooga’s current recycling situation.
♻️ What does this mean?
- Recycling will be picked up 1 time in the next week in an effort to collect residents’ recycling that accumulated during the suspension of curbside recycling.
- On your normal garbage collection day, bring both your garbage + recycling carts to the curb before 7 a.m. — both will be picked up.
- These materials will not be recycled — they will go in the trash alongside the contents of your garbage can: “many residents’ bins have...been sitting outside in the weather for several weeks now — rendering the material inside too poor a quality for a second life in the recycling aftermarket.” — City spokeswoman Mary Beth Ikard
- According to Ikard, this solution is primarily to help citizens who are unable to take their recycling to 1 of the city’s 5 recycling drop-offs.
♻️ Wait, why is this happening?
- In late July, the City of Chattanooga announced that it would be suspending curbside recycling due to a shortage of truck drivers.
- In order to get more drivers, Mayor Kelly’s proposed budget includes an average starting pay increase of 42.6% for garbage and recycle drivers.
- Chattanooga Public Works says it plans to resume the curbside service during the month of October.
♻️ What to do now?
Until curbside recycling is resumed, you can purchase services from private providers like Scenic City Recycling + use your city recycling carts for that purpose. You can also collect your recycling as normal + take it to 1 of the city’s 5 recycling center drop-off locations:
- 5955 Brainerd Rd.
- 1250 E. 3rd St.
- 3189 Cummings Hwy.
- 8004 Batters Place Rd.
- 4504 N. Access Rd.
