CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville has been chosen alongside nine other communities for a Recycling Roundup event through the nonprofit organization Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) that will allow residents to recycle items that normally end up in the landfill.
The nonprofit is headquartered in Nashville and has been around for half a decade, hosting multiple conservation programs each year.
Origins of Recycling Roundup
Abby Schneider, TEC’s recycling education and outreach manager, told Clarksville Now that Recycling Roundup is a new program funded through an environmental justice grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency awarded earlier this year.
“We have done some similar events in the past. We did a local one (event) in Nashville about three or four years ago that had a really good turnout, and we realized that people are interested in recycling and disposing of these items in their house that they may not realize can be recycled, like electronics, mattresses, and textiles,” Schneider said.
Events will feature a drive-through format, making it convenient for residents to recycle or dispose of household items. TEC said in a news release that this initiative is part of an ongoing effort to reduce illegal dumping and litter across Tennessee while reducing reliance on landfills.
“We feel that much of Tennessee urgently needs improved recycling services, and this is one way we can make a difference for our environment and communities across the state,” Schneider said.
She also noted these communities were selected by ranking eligibility based on EPA’s “EJScreen” tool and other needs-based information provided by applicants. Other factors included ranking needs by committee members who reviewed all application responses as well as the geographic distribution of events across the state.
Recycling opportunity for Clarksville
According to a news release from TEC, 10 communities were selected from 35 applications to host these recycling roundup events. Communities were chosen following a months-long process of statewide outreach and application reviews, according to a news release from TEC. Clarksville joins Nashville, Camden, Charleston, Hornbeak, Jackson, Memphis, Ripley, Robbins and Rutledge as part of the initiative.
Carlye Sommers, Clarksville Gas & Water grants analyst, said the city saw this as a benefit for residents looking to recycle beyond the local convenience centers.
“We looked at it as an opportunity to have more recycling for our residents, so obviously we have the convenience centers here locally, but this particular one (event) offers the ability to do materials that aren’t taken at the convenience centers. Things like mattresses, florescent bulbs, and electronics,” Sommers told Clarksville Now.
There is no word as to when the Clarksville Recycling Roundup event will take place, but Sommers said the date could be announced as soon as next week. She also said the event itself is expected to take place before the end of the year.