It’s time to roll those green recycling bins up from the street — for now.

Curbside recycling is temporarily suspended in Nashville due to delays in trash pickup. The pause in service went into effect yesterday + is expected to continue through late January or early February.

Why is this happening?

According to city officials, Metro’s waste services contractor Red River is experiencing ongoing staffing shortages and fleet issues, which has led to trash pickup delays for the past three weeks. As a result, recycling trucks and staff have been reassigned to trash collection.

Can I still recycle?

Metro Water Services — the department that now oversees trash and recycling collection — is encouraging residents to take recyclable items to the city’s 10 drop-off sites + four convenience centers.

Drop-off sites: Go here to recycle paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, and glass jars and bottles (some locations) + be sure to place unbagged items in their designated bins. Pro tip: Most locations are accessible 24 hours a day.
Convenience centers: Go here to drop off recyclables, compostables, and residential trash. Pro tip: Residents are limited to two visits per day.

The do’s + don’ts

Recycling can be confusing. To make sure you’re recycling in the most effective way possible, learn what you can and cannot recycle at drop-off sites using the city’s Waste Wizard tool. The tool, which launched earlier this year, pulls from a bank of 200+ items including paper towel rolls, plastic buckets, electronics, and more.

For more tips, watch previous recordings of recycling workshops, including a guide to recycling during the holidays.

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