The Knoxville Compost Project
In February of 2022, The Knoxville Compost Project began as a small pilot program with the introduction of Knoxville’s first food scraps drop-off site located in the Old City. This pilot program was made possible through partnerships with BattleField Farm, City Possum Farm, and the TN Department of Environment and Conservation.
Due to its success, utilizing funds provided through the USDA’s Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Grant, The Knoxville Compost Project was able to expand in 2023! This expansion involved partnerships with 2 additional community farms, installation of 4 more food scrap drop-off sites, providing free backyard composting workshops to 250 households, and the support of composting efforts at 7 community gardens.
Knoxvillians can look forward to even further expansion in 2025|2026 with another increase in the number of food scrap drop-off sites and the return of our free backyard composting workshops. We are very excited to continue broadening composting efforts here in Knoxville!
The Knoxville Compost Project is made possible by the continuing involvement and support of our great community partners whose logos are displayed below.
How to Participate
Before dropping off your food scraps, please review the Yes/No list below and then take the quiz to test your knowledge! Upon successfully completing the quiz, you will receive a code. You will need this code to unlock the combination padlocks on the food scraps bins at our drop-off locations; please save it for future reference!
Accepted Food ScrapsFruitsVegetablesCoffee GroundsPaper Coffee FiltersEggshellsNut ShellsLoose Leaf TeaUnaccepted ScrapsCooked FoodOils, Fats, GreaseMeat, Seafood, BonesDairy (Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, Mayo, etc.)Bread, Rice, GrainsLeaves or Brush”Compostable” Bags, Cups, Bowls, Utensils, Bioplastics, etc.Anything Plastic (Produce Stickers, Bags, Styrofoam, etc.)Animal Waste / LitterCharcoal Tea BagsFood Scrap Drop-off Locations
Three of the four City recycling centers include a food scraps drop-off. The centers are open and staffed from Monday through Friday, 10 am to 7 pm, and Saturday through Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm. Additionally, the Old City Garden, Ijams Nature Center, Bearden United Methodist Church, and Three Rivers Market host a food scraps drop-off. Nourish Knoxville hosts a food scraps drop-off at all of their Market Square Farmers’ markets. (See Note 1)
Downtown: Old City Garden – 300 E Depot Avenue.East: Chilhowee Park / Magnolia Avenue – 210 Alice Street.South: Chapman Highway – 225 W Moody Avenue.Southeast: Ijams Nature Center – 2915 Island Home Avenue.North: Three Rivers Market – 1100 N Central Street.Northwest: Corner of Pleasant Ridge Road and Merchant Drive – 5412 Pleasant Ridge Road.West: Bearden United Methodist Church – 4407 Sutherland Avenue.Market Square Farmers’ Market: At Information booth during every Saturday market (and Wednesday markets May through October) (See Note 1)
Note 1: More information can be found on Nourish Knoxville’s website.
