NOTICE: A lot of portable electronic devices contain lithium batteries that can cause fires if damaged. Please do not throw any portable electronic devices in the trash if it is rechargeable or has a rechargeable battery. Common examples of this are hoverboards, vacuum robots, cellular phones, etc.
Recycling electronics is encouraged but it may be necessary to throw some electronics in trash containers or in other collection areas such as scrap metal. Please understand that electronic waste and recycling markets can change rapidly. What is acceptable in collection areas may change periodically based on market conditions. Pay attention to any signs that may appear announcing changes in what is accepted because anything important may be communicated with a separate sign or label.
Convenience Centers with Goodwill Operated E-waste Recycling
Four (4) Convenience Centers listed below have an area for electronic recycling. Also below is a list of what is accepted by Goodwill for e-waste recycling. Goodwill attendants will be there to clarify what is acceptable for recycling and what is not.
Goodwill E-waste Locations:
- Dutchtown -10618 Dutchtown Road
- Halls -3608 Neal Road
- Karns -6930 Karns Crossing Lane
- John Sevier -1950 West Gov. John Sevier Highway
E-waste Recycling Accepted:
Computer equipment, PC systems, CPUs, monitors, mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, laptops, modems, hard drives, speakers, power cords, cables, phones, powers strips, desktop copiers, fax machines, and cell phones.
E-waste Directed to Other Disposal Streams
- televisions must be thrown in the trash containers because they are cost prohibitive to recycle. they must be placed into the blue trash containers because they are sent to class i landfills. users should use caution and bring help if needed for loading and unloading as centers are self-service
- toasters, hair dryers, clock radios, vacuums, corded telephones, speakers, and other small electronic components may be placed in the garbage compactor or scrap metal pile depending on whether they are mostly non-metal or metal
- home appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, and microwaves will be directed to be thrown into the scrap metal piles. See Scrap Metal Page for more information.
- bulbs, lamps. See Fluorescent Bulb Page for more information.
- See Rechargeable Battery section below.
- refrigerant containing devices are not accepted. See Refrigerants Page for more information.
Trade-in Old Electronic Devices for Credit at Retailers
Where possible electronics should be traded in for credit when purchasing new products. Trade-in credits or free recycling for mobile devices and tablets is often available at electronic retailers.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Area
Knox County Convenience Centers accept a variety of batteries for recycling. Please note that waste and recycling markets can change rapidly, so the types of batteries accepted may vary over time. Check for posted signs or labels at the centers for the latest updates.
Automotive, Motorcycle, Marine, or Lawnmower Batteries
Automotive or lead-acid batteries are collected in a cage near the center attendant’s office or oil collection areas.
Rechargeable, Button-Style, Tool, Phone, and Internal Home Electronic Batteries
Rechargeable batteries, including standard sizes (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V), button-style batteries, hearing aid batteries, and lithium batteries, are accepted in buckets labeled for battery collection. Batteries from power tools, mobile phones, hoverboards, children’s riding toys, cordless razors, toothbrushes, or other home electronic devices with built-in rechargeable batteries are also accepted. Batteries should be removed from devices before being placed in the buckets. The battery collection buckets are typically located near the automotive lead-acid battery cages. If a battery is too large to fit in the bucket, it should be placed in the cage with automotive batteries.
Non-Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries
Non-rechargeable alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V) can be safely thrown out as household trash. Residents are encouraged to switch to rechargeable batteries for environmental benefits. While alkaline batteries may be placed in the recycling buckets, they are not ideal for recycling and may be treated as contamination and disposed of later as trash.
Lithium Batteries
All lithium batteries, including lithium-ion batteries, must be placed in the collection buckets to ensure they are safely recycled. Lithium batteries pose significant fire risks if improperly disposed of and should never be thrown in the trash.
