Rutherford County-backed Recycle Right website launches; commissioners approve $5,000 sponsorship for county recycle roundup

Donna Barrett, Solid Waste Planning Board presenter, told the Rutherford County Public Works Planning Committee on July 16 that a new website, RecycleRightTN.com (also presented as Recycle Right), will launch tomorrow to help residents find local recycling locations and learn what items are accepted.

Barrett said the site lists 13 county convenience centers, about 85 private-sector locations in the four-county region the board covers (95% of those are in Rutherford County), and searchable categories showing what each location accepts. "Our mission with the website was to answer the questions, where do I recycle and what can I recycle?" Barrett said.

The website is part of a broader pilot program that includes education and grant research, Barrett said. She said the planning board has hired Asia Weatherford, a 30-hour-per-week employee working on the website and related outreach, and that staff will seek available grants, including a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recycling rebate program that Barrett said can reimburse up to $750,000 to the five largest counties and their cities.

Barrett gave details on how the site addresses specific items: Staples and Office Depot locations that accept ink cartridges and many electronics, lithium and household batteries collected via box programs, and private vendors that buy scrap metal. She noted that certain items (monitors, TVs, mattresses) often carry end-user fees and that mattress collection and recycling presently requires payment; she said the board is negotiating with a vendor to reduce fees and exploring staged collection at high-traffic convenience centers. Barrett also described outreach plans including press releases, social media posts, local radio, podcast proposals, and possible TV/community channel placements.

Committee members raised operational questions about tracking results. Barrett asked for traffic counts and baseline tonnage data from convenience centers to measure the effect of education and the site; commissioners discussed whether tonnage or vehicle counts would provide the best benchmark. Barrett also described the planning board’s sponsorship of an annual "recycle roundup" organized with the Tennessee Environmental Council to collect difficult-to-recycle items. The roundup is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU); organizers plan electronics (monitors at no cost for that event), up to two mattresses per household at a reduced fee for the event, tires (maximum eight), and other items.

After discussion of funding and timing, the committee considered a motion supporting Rutherford County unifying with the mayor’s office to provide $5,000 to sponsor the Aug. 16 recycle roundup. The committee recorded a roll-call vote: Commissioner Cush — aye; Commissioner Pearson — yes; Commissioner James — yes; Mr. Dodge — yes; Mr. Boyd — yes; Chairman Johnson — aye. The motion passed.

Barrett said the website will be maintained and updated and that the board will continue visiting convenience centers to vet locations and refine listings. She asked partners and residents to submit locations the site may have missed. Barrett said the planning board will return with follow-up information on grant opportunities, mattress-fee negotiations, and metrics for measuring outreach effectiveness.

Details and immediate next steps: the website will be publicly announced with a press release and social posts; the planning board will seek sponsor and media partnerships; the Aug. 16 recycle roundup will proceed with listed vendors and sponsors; and the committee recommended the mayor’s office provide $5,000 to support the event.