Page 21 - July/Aug 2015 Vol. 33 No. 2
P. 21
sought ways to improve its recycling services. The initial
curbside service that began in 1995 utilized a 14-gallon
bin for weekly pick-up. Items collected included glass
bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, steel & tin cans,
and newspapers and inserts. In 2008, “single-stream”
recycling was implemented that increased the number of
accepted materials. All plastic bottles and food contain-
ers labeled #1 to #7, junk mail, office paper, file fold-
ers, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, plastic bags, and
phonebooks were added.
In 2011, Alcoa became the third community in the
state to offer the RecycleBank program. This service
added 95-gallon carts serviced biweekly while provid-
ing customers the opportunity to earn points based on
the weight of their recycled materials. These points were
redeemable for rewards from national and local retail-
ers. The RecycleBank program was phased out in 2013.
However, the 95-gallon carts that were made popular
by this change were retained. The City currently utilizes
these carts citywide for biweekly service by Waste Con-
nections of Knoxville.
In 2010 the City of Alcoa significantly improved
its brush, wood waste, and leaf collection processes –
although residents probably noticed little change in
these services. These materials are now transported
to Kellems Recycling for processing into landscaping
mulch. Another enhancement has been household
electronics recycling, added in 2009. Under this program
the City’s Service Center accepts televisions, computers,
and other household electronics from Alcoa residents
free-of-charge for recycling. Lastly, a waste-oil tank is
located at the intersection of Springbrook Road and
Edison Street for recycling motor oil by do-it-yourself
mechanics. This service was part of the City’s original
recycling drop-off center that opened in 1993.
The City of Alcoa’s efforts are also felt countywide as
operator of the Alcoa-Maryville-Blount County Landfill.
The landfill offers a recycling drop-off center for residen-
tial customers; this includes household electronics and
a waste oil collection tank. Landfill staff also assists local
businesses and industries to identify means for recycling
of waste materials. The recycling of tires, coordinated
through the State’s Waste Tire Program, diverts waste tires
to other uses. The landfill operations provide over $40,000
annually to Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) for their solid
waste and recycling education efforts. Landfill staff works
closely with KBB staff in their education efforts, coordi-
nating tours of the landfill, which includes information
on waste recycling and reduction efforts. Support is also
provided to other organizations such as the Little River
Watershed Association in their annual cleanup efforts.
The City of Alcoa continues to seek and take sug-
gestions to improve recycling efforts for its residents
and businesses alike. As the number of households and
businesses continues to grow, it is hoped that recycling
participation will continue to increase, diverting even
more material from being landfilled. Alcoa residents are
commended for embracing the changes that were imple-
mented in 1995 and for supporting improvements to the
recycling program to date.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 21
curbside service that began in 1995 utilized a 14-gallon
bin for weekly pick-up. Items collected included glass
bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, steel & tin cans,
and newspapers and inserts. In 2008, “single-stream”
recycling was implemented that increased the number of
accepted materials. All plastic bottles and food contain-
ers labeled #1 to #7, junk mail, office paper, file fold-
ers, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, plastic bags, and
phonebooks were added.
In 2011, Alcoa became the third community in the
state to offer the RecycleBank program. This service
added 95-gallon carts serviced biweekly while provid-
ing customers the opportunity to earn points based on
the weight of their recycled materials. These points were
redeemable for rewards from national and local retail-
ers. The RecycleBank program was phased out in 2013.
However, the 95-gallon carts that were made popular
by this change were retained. The City currently utilizes
these carts citywide for biweekly service by Waste Con-
nections of Knoxville.
In 2010 the City of Alcoa significantly improved
its brush, wood waste, and leaf collection processes –
although residents probably noticed little change in
these services. These materials are now transported
to Kellems Recycling for processing into landscaping
mulch. Another enhancement has been household
electronics recycling, added in 2009. Under this program
the City’s Service Center accepts televisions, computers,
and other household electronics from Alcoa residents
free-of-charge for recycling. Lastly, a waste-oil tank is
located at the intersection of Springbrook Road and
Edison Street for recycling motor oil by do-it-yourself
mechanics. This service was part of the City’s original
recycling drop-off center that opened in 1993.
The City of Alcoa’s efforts are also felt countywide as
operator of the Alcoa-Maryville-Blount County Landfill.
The landfill offers a recycling drop-off center for residen-
tial customers; this includes household electronics and
a waste oil collection tank. Landfill staff also assists local
businesses and industries to identify means for recycling
of waste materials. The recycling of tires, coordinated
through the State’s Waste Tire Program, diverts waste tires
to other uses. The landfill operations provide over $40,000
annually to Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) for their solid
waste and recycling education efforts. Landfill staff works
closely with KBB staff in their education efforts, coordi-
nating tours of the landfill, which includes information
on waste recycling and reduction efforts. Support is also
provided to other organizations such as the Little River
Watershed Association in their annual cleanup efforts.
The City of Alcoa continues to seek and take sug-
gestions to improve recycling efforts for its residents
and businesses alike. As the number of households and
businesses continues to grow, it is hoped that recycling
participation will continue to increase, diverting even
more material from being landfilled. Alcoa residents are
commended for embracing the changes that were imple-
mented in 1995 and for supporting improvements to the
recycling program to date.
View online at tnpublicworks.com 21
