Knoxville, Tennessee

Recycling centers in Knoxville

Find a place for your next drop-off. Compare accepted materials, check hours, and contact a local center before you go.

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Local recycling centers

8 locations

All Metal Recycling

1616 Maryville Pike

Homeowners and trades alike pull onto the drive-on scales at this locally owned Knoxville yard, which has no minimum load and pays cash on the spot. Contractors, roofers, HVAC technicians, and electricians get a dedicated commercial lane for copper pipe, AC coils, and insulated wire, plus scheduled pickups on larger jobs. The buy list runs from aluminum extrusions, wheels, and radiators to bare bright copper, brass plumbing fittings, 304 and 316 stainless, lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, and catalytic converters bought as the law requires. Ferrous intake covers structural steel, cast iron, heavy melting steel, and household appliances. Industrial accounts get roll-off containers with swap-outs, and grapple and shear crews handle demolition and tear-outs. The yard is open Monday through Friday and until mid-afternoon Saturday.

Scrap MetalCopperAluminumBrassStainless SteelSteel+4 more

Accepts: Aluminum, Copper, Brass and bronze, Stainless steel, Nickel alloys, Titanium, Insulated wire, Catalytic converters, Lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, Structural steel, Cast iron, Heavy melting steel, Appliances, Alternators and starters, Engine blocks

Services: Drive-on truck scales · Cash payment on site · Commercial lane for contractors · Scheduled scrap pickup · Roll-off container rental and swaps · Demolition and tear-out with grapple and shear crews

Does All Metal Recycling buy catalytic converters?

Yes. The yard lists catalytic converters among its automotive scrap, bought in accordance with the law.

Is there a minimum load at All Metal Recycling in Knoxville?

No. Residential customers drive onto the scales with any amount of metal, from appliances to lawn mowers, and are paid cash on the spot.

Junk Car Mafia

6915 Old Rutledge Pike

Junk Car Mafia has been buying junk cars and sourcing parts since 2005 from its Knoxville yard. The business salvages usable and vintage parts from vehicles in all conditions and supplies cars for demolition derbies across East Tennessee.

knoxville tnjunk carsauto salvageauto partsdemolition derby

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sat 9:00am-3:00pm

Accepts: Junk cars, Broken vehicles, Old cars, Classic vehicle parts, Salvage vehicles

Services: Junk car removal · Auto parts for sale · Auto wrecking · Salvage vehicle purchasing · Demolition derby supply

How long have you been in business?

Junk Car Mafia has been buying junk cars and supplying parts since 2005.

What do you use the vehicles for?

We source usable and vintage parts, supply vehicles for demolition derbies, and handle full salvage operations.

Knox County's Halls convenience center on Neal Road has an electronics recycling area run by America's Thrift Store. Attendants there explain which items qualify, and the center also collects lead-acid and rechargeable batteries.

e-wastedrop-offbatteriesconvenience center

Accepts: Small electronics, Radios, DVD players, Stereos, Speakers, Gaming systems, Smartphones, Small household appliances, Rechargeable batteries, Automotive batteries

Services: E-waste drop-off · Battery recycling

Can I recycle a television at the Halls convenience center?

No. Knox County directs televisions into the blue trash containers because they cost too much to recycle.

What condition must e-waste be in?

Items taken by America's Thrift Store must be in good, working condition.

Knox County John Sevier Convenience Center

1950 West Governor John Sevier Highway

This Knox County convenience center on West Governor John Sevier Highway runs an e-waste recycling area staffed by America's Thrift Store attendants. Home appliances such as washers, dryers and stoves go to the scrap metal piles.

e-wastedrop-offscrap metalbatteriesconvenience center

Accepts: Small electronics, Radios, DVD players, Stereos, Speakers, Gaming systems, Smartphones, Appliances (scrap metal piles), Rechargeable batteries, Automotive batteries

Services: E-waste drop-off · Scrap metal drop-off · Battery recycling

Where do washers and dryers go?

Home appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters and microwaves go into the scrap metal piles.

Knox County Karns Convenience Center

6930 Karns Crossing Lane

The Karns convenience center on Karns Crossing Lane takes small electronics through an America's Thrift Store collection area. Battery buckets and an automotive battery cage sit near the attendant's office.

e-wastedrop-offbatteriesconvenience center

Accepts: Small electronics, Radios, DVD players, Stereos, Speakers, Gaming systems, Smartphones, Small household appliances, Rechargeable batteries, Automotive batteries

Services: E-waste drop-off · Battery recycling

Where do lithium batteries go at the Karns center?

All lithium batteries, including lithium-ion, go in the labeled collection buckets and never in the trash.

What is the verified public contact for this location?

Knox County Solid Waste administration publishes 865-215-5865 as a shared programme or department office contact. This contact serves multiple locations. Source: https://www.knoxcounty.org/solid_waste/contact.php

Pull-A-Part Knoxville

5800 Rutledge Pike

Pull-A-Part Knoxville is at 5800 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924. Yard admission is 8:00am to 5:30pm every day, and the store stays open until 6:00pm. Regular admission is $2 and VIP admission is $1. You must be 16 to enter. Customer service is 865-523-8000.

self-service yardused auto partsjunk cars

Listed hours: Yard Mon-Sun 8:00am-5:30pm; retail Mon-Sun 8:00am-6:00pm

Accepts: Junk cars, Junk trucks

Services: Self-service used auto parts · Junk car buying · Used car sales

What is the Knoxville Pull-A-Part phone?

865-523-8000 for customer service. Selling a car is 865-936-9085.

Which Rutledge Pike address is this?

5800 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924.

TAS Recycling

5000 Rutledge Pike

TAS Recycling lists 5000 Rutledge Pike in Knoxville as its auto parts location, where customers can search a used parts inventory. The company buys old, damaged, and non-running cars, trucks, and SUVs and offers free pickup. It also buys scrap metal and is a member of the Automotive Recyclers Association Recycled Original Equipment program.

auto salvageused auto partsjunk car buyerscrap metalfree pickup

Listed hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-11:30am

Accepts: Batteries, A/C compressors, Stainless steel, Alternators, Aluminum, Copper #1, Copper #2, Starters, Scrap steel, Wire harnesses, Radiators, Electric motors and cables

Services: Used auto parts sales · Online parts inventory search · Junk car buying · Free vehicle pickup · Scrap metal buying · Recycling bin delivery for businesses

What are the hours at TAS Recycling in Knoxville?

The site lists Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 11:30am.

Does TAS Recycling pick up junk cars?

Yes. The site says vehicle pickup is free, and it describes pickup within 45 minutes of a request.

TAS Recycling Scrap Yard

7820 Rutledge Pike

TAS Recycling opened in Knoxville in 2013 and now runs yards in Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina, plus a Knoxville copper mill added in 2024. The Rutledge Pike recycling yard buys steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless, paying on the spot subject to state scrap metal laws. A separate auto parts yard sits at 5000 Rutledge Pike. Junk car sellers get an instant online quote, free pickup, and a check after a quick inspection. The company advertises pickup within 45 minutes of a request and covers the towing. Businesses request recycling bins for scrap collection. The yard opens Monday through Friday 8 to 5 and Saturday 8 to 11:30.

Scrap MetalJunk CarsCopperAluminumBrassStainless Steel+3 more

Accepts: Steel, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Stainless steel, Junk cars, Batteries

Services: Instant online junk car offer · Free junk car pickup and towing · Recycling bin delivery for businesses · Copper mill for in-house refining

Does TAS Recycling pick up junk cars?

Yes. TAS picks up junk cars for free and handles the towing and paperwork after an instant online offer.

What metals does TAS Recycling buy?

TAS buys steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless steel, with payment on the spot subject to state scrap metal laws.

Materials Accepted in Knoxville

Based on the listings above, materials commonly handled in Knoxville include e-waste, drop-off, batteries, convenience center, Scrap Metal. Browse the guides below for preparation tips, scrap values, and what's recyclable.

Recycling in Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville stopped taking glass in the free curbside cart in January 2017. The city still takes glass at its four recycling drop-off centers and at UT's recycling center. Curbside glass had to ride the sorting line with everything else, and the separated glass at the drop-off centers does not. Tennessee has no bottle deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put glass in my Knoxville recycling cart?

No. Since January 2017, glass has been out of the free curbside cart. Take bottles and jars to one of the city's four recycling drop-off centers, or to UT's recycling center.

Why did Knoxville pull glass from the cart?

The city says curbside glass has to travel down the sorting line to be separated from other materials. Glass brought to a drop-off center is already kept apart, so it does not go through that step.

Where do items the Knoxville cart will not take go?

The city points residents to its Specialty Recycling and Donations Guide and to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Those pages cover household items that are reusable or hazardous and are not accepted in the cart or at the drop-off centers.

Recycling tips for Knoxville

  • •Keep glass out of the curbside cart.
  • •Use one of the four city drop-off centers, or UT's center, for bottles and jars.
  • •Hazardous and specialty items have their own city pages. They do not go in the cart.
  • •Tennessee does not run a bottle deposit.

Recycling centers near Knoxville

The closest recycling centers in neighboring areas:

Recycling centers in nearby cities

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