By Monica DeVore

 

The holidays are about to wrap up for 2017!  As you begin to take down your live Christmas trees and throw away old strands of lights, keep in mind Knoxville has great resources for recycling both. Here are some locations and details for what you can do with both to help keep Knoxville, Knox County and Mother Nature beautiful!

Christmas tree collection in the City of Knoxville is the same process as for brush collection. After all decorations have been removed, bare trees should be placed at the street for pick-up. Public Service Department crews will be concentrating on leaf collection and will pick up brush and Christmas trees as time allows. The regular two week schedule for brush will not begin until February 1st, depending on the area of the City.

Throughout the entire month of January, Knox County residents can bring their live Christmas trees to the following locations for free disposal.  Same as with city curb-side disposal, trees must be cleaned of all ornaments, lights, wire, string and other decorations.

Christmas Tree Recycling Locations:

  • Dutchtown Convenience Center – 10618 Dutchtown Road
  • Halls Convenience Center – 3608 Neal Drive
  • John Sevier Convenience Center – 1950 West John Sevier Highway
  • Karns Convenience Center – 6930 Karns Crossing Lane
  • Powell Convenience Center – 7311 Morton View Lane
  • Tazewell Pike Convenience Center – 7201 Tazewell Pike

Please note:  In the past, Ijams Nature Center has recycled old Christmas trees into mulch for their trails, but this year they already have a large supply of mulch and will NOT be recycling trees this year.

 

Don’t forget you can recycle your old Christmas tree lights, too!

Don’t throw those old strands of nonfunctioning lights your in garbage can!  You can recycle your old or unwanted Christmas lights via a Sunshine Industries Initiative at these Pilot Flying J locations between November 21st and January 31st:

  • 701 Campbell Station Rd.
  • 2218 Cumberland Ave.
  • 13065 Kingston Pike
  • 405 Lovell Rd.
  • 6900 Maynardville Pike
  • 410 Merchants Rd.
  • 421 North Cedar Bluff Rd.
  • 136 N. Northshore Dr.
  • 9550 Northshore Dr.
  • 7686 Northshore Dr.
  • 5800 Oak Ridge Highway
  • 2918 Tazewell Pike
  • 206 Walker Springs Rd.

By donating your old lights, they are properly recycled and kept out of the landfills.  The best part is that this effort supports   Arc Knox County/Sunshine Industries in providing jobs for adults with disabilities.