Knox County Tennesee

Also known as "orphan wastes," the following is a list of waste materials that require special handling. This is not a complete list and is subject to change.

Knox County is required by State Law to manage its scrap tires. This amounts to approximately 700,000 passenger tire equivalents each year. Most of the tires come from tire dealers where a dollar state fee is charged for each tire. Most of that revenue returns to the county to defray the cost of managing the tires. Other tires come from used tire dealers, tire dumps, farms and other locations. They are required to pay a different fee to dispose of their tires.

Under state law, no tires or shreds can be landfilled. Knox County contracts with a processor to shred and grind tires into fuel grade chunks that are burned in coal fired plants. Many of Knox County's tires are also burned whole in the Cemex cement kiln in East Knoxville. You might think burning tires causes pollution, but when they are burned in a controlled way such as described here, it actually reduces air pollution.

Air conditioners and refrigerators/freezers contain freon or similar greenhouse gases. They need to be extracted and the compressor removed before the units are sent to a metal recycler. The City of Knoxville Solid Waste Management Facility has equipment and trained personnel to extract and remove the gases and compressors.

Most household batteries are not recyclable and contain alkaline material. These can be disposed of safely in household trash. Knox County Solid Waste recommends using rechargeable batteries. They last a long time and when they no longer can hold a charge, they can be recycled at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Medical Waste generated in the home, such as needles and other sharps used by diabetics, can be disposed of in household trash. Knox County Solid Waste recommends all sharps be put into a hard plastic container such as an old milk jug and placed within a bag of other garbage. Used bandages and wraps and out of date or no longer used prescription drugs can be disposed of in household trash as well. For more information, contact the Solid Waste Office at 215-JUNK.

Vehicle gas tanks are not in the normal waste stream, but become a problem when junk cars are scrapped and recycled. The metal recycler does not accept them because of their explosive potential. Many gas tanks are illegally dumped on public and private property. Call Knox County Solid Waste for information on how to dispose of gas tanks.