Trash & Recycling in Knox County, TN (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Knox County runs no curbside garbage or recycling truck outside the incorporated cities: households haul trash themselves to county convenience centers under Sec. 26-129 of the Code of Ordinances. The county's solid waste department writes the rules for each center, must post them for public inspection, and treats a violation of those posted rules as criminal littering under Sec. 26-130.
Trash Pickup Rules in Knox County, TN
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code §§ 26-129, 26-130
The county department of solid waste shall be responsible for promulgating rules and regulations for the operation of all county convenient centers. The regulation shall be available for public inspection at each convenient center. Violation of any rule or regulation for the operation of convenient centers promulgated by the county solid waste department shall be considered littering and a viol...
Bin Placement Rules
Knox County has no curbside trash service, so there are no set trash-cart setout times, but open storage of junk and debris is prohibited on residential lots. Abandoned or inoperable vehicles cannot be stored on private property, which is enforced alongside container and blight rules by Code Administration.
Trash Container and Junk Vehicle Storage in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Vehicle Ordinance O-12-09-101
An abandoned or inoperable vehicle cannot be stored on public or private property for more than 48 hours. There will be cases where an abandoned inoperable vehicle will be given a 30 day notice to remove when it is on a private property and is in violation of the ordinance.
Bulk Item Disposal
Knox County residents can self-haul large items free to a Convenience Center, which accepts hot water tanks, furniture, and small demolition debris from home improvements. Quantity limits apply and some items are not accepted; centers are for Knox County residents only.
Bulky Item Disposal in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Solid Waste (Convenience Centers)
Knox County Centers will accept large items such as hot water tanks, furniture, small demolition debris from home improvements, etc.
Recycling Requirements
Recycling in Knox County is voluntary, not mandatory. Residents drop recyclables free at Convenience Centers, which take plastic bottles/jugs labeled #1 and #2, mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, scrap metal, and more. No plastic bags, Styrofoam, or food waste in recycling bins.
Recycling Requirements in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Solid Waste (Knox Recycles)
Knox County's recycling program has lower contamination rates because participation is voluntary and recycling participants mostly express a desire to 'do the right thing'.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping more than ten pounds or 15 cubic feet of waste anywhere in Knox County is aggravated criminal littering under Sec. 26-125, a Class A misdemeanor that becomes a felony on repeat offenses. Fines collected under the litter article fund a dedicated illegal dump clean-up account the county must tap before spending general revenue on cleanup, per Sec. 26-131.
Illegal Dumping Penalties in Knox County, TN
Heavy RestrictionsKnox County Code § 26-125
(a)Aggravated criminal littering is littering:(1)In an amount exceeding ten pounds in weight or 15 cubic feet in volume; or(2)In any amount for any commercial purpose.(b)Pursuant to T.C.A. § 39-14-505(b), aggravated criminal littering is a Class A misdemeanor; provided:(1)If the amount of litter exceeds 100 pounds in weight or 30 cubic feet in volume, then the defendant is subject to imprisonme...
Yard Waste Collection
Knox County has no curbside yard-waste pickup: residents haul greenwaste, meaning logs, limbs, leaves, grass and brush, to county convenience centers equipped to accept it under Sec. 26-2 of the Code of Ordinances. The county can cap load size, limit branch diameter and charge a posted fee for disposal, and contaminated loads can draw a littering citation.
Yard Waste Disposal at Knox County Centers
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code § 26-2
Greenwaste is defined as logs, limbs, leaves, grass and brush. Greenwaste generated in non-commercial activity may be disposed of at county convenience centers that are equipped to accept greenwaste. Greenwaste may not be placed in compactors for household garbage or compactors for non-commercial demolition and construction debris. The county, or its designated agent, by contract may limit the ...
Trash & Recycling by City in Knox County
1 cities in Knox County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Knox County ordinances
See every category we cover for Knox County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Knox County Ordinance Hub →