Knoxville-area apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site property managers: even without a formal apartment recycling mandate, you are still on the hook for clean, code-compliant waste areas. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is built around City of Knoxville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 13 (Solid Waste), Knox County’s convenience center and hauling framework, and the Town of Farragut’s nuisance and property maintenance rules, helping you reduce enforcement risk while giving residents the doorstep convenience they expect.
Inside the City of Knoxville, the City offers free, opt-in curbside recycling to eligible parcels with four or fewer dwelling units on a property, and operates recycling drop-off centers and a Solid Waste Management Facility for specialty materials. Larger apartment communities are treated as commercial customers that contract directly with private haulers for trash and optional recycling service, and there is currently no city ordinance that requires apartment properties to provide recycling access to residents. In Knox County (including the Town of Farragut and unincorporated communities such as Powell, Halls, Karns, Corryton, Gibbs, and Hardin Valley), the County does not provide curbside pickup of any waste or recycling and there is likewise no county-wide apartment recycling mandate, but solid-waste, nuisance, and property maintenance codes still apply.
- Stay Ahead of Enforcement: Knoxville, Knox County, and Farragut can all cite properties for illegal dumping, garbage accumulation, and nuisance conditions even in the absence of a recycling mandate.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service keeps residents out of dark enclosures, reduces trips to Knox County convenience centers, and supports renewals and online reputation.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, signage, and pick-up frequencies are designed around Chapter 13 solid-waste expectations, Knox County convenience center standards, and Farragut Chapter 14 nuisance and property maintenance rules.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We handle hauler coordination, resident education, and documentation so your team can focus on leasing and operations while staying “inspection ready” across the Knoxville metro.
At a Glance: City of Knoxville vs. Knox County, Town of Farragut & Unincorporated Communities
City of Knoxville (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate. Recycling is offered as an optional service for eligible smaller residential parcels and via drop-off centers.
- Applicability Threshold: The City’s free curbside recycling cart program is available to households on parcels with four or fewer units that sign up for service; larger multifamily communities arrange trash and any recycling via private haulers and are not required by ordinance to provide resident recycling service.
- Property Manager Duties: Keep premises clean and sanitary, prevent accumulation of refuse, follow trash container rules, and avoid illegal dumping under Chapter 13 – Solid Waste. Maintain adequate trash capacity and clean, safe collection areas for residents.
- Program Duties: If you provide recycling, ensure clear signage, resident education, and orderly container areas so inspectors can see that materials are managed properly, even though recycling is voluntary.
- Key City Links & Citations:
• City of Knoxville Code – Chapter 13: Solid Waste
• City of Knoxville Recycling Program Overview
• Curbside Recycling – Eligibility & Sign-Up
• Recycling & Waste Disposal Guide – City of Knoxville & Knox County
• Illegal Dumping – Penalties & Reporting
Knox County, Town of Farragut & Unincorporated Communities
- Mandate Type: No county-wide or municipal apartment recycling mandate. Apartments are treated as commercial solid-waste customers; recycling is typically offered by private haulers or via drop-off, not by mandate.
- Applicability Threshold: Knox County operates convenience centers and recycling drop-off sites, but explicitly does not provide curbside pickup of any waste or recycling; residents and properties must hire a hauler, and some haulers may offer recycling.
- Property Manager Duties: Maintain adequate trash service, prevent overflow and illegal dumping, and keep enclosures free of nuisance conditions. In the Town of Farragut, accumulation of garbage, junk, or litter is a property maintenance violation under Chapter 14 – Nuisances & Property Maintenance, enforceable through municipal court.
- Risk Profile: Even without a recycling mandate, properties can be cited for unsanitary conditions, garbage accumulation, and nuisance violations under county and municipal codes and under the Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act.
- Key County & Town Links & Citations:
• Knox County Solid Waste – Convenience Centers & Recycling
• Knox County Convenience Centers & Haulers – Waste Guide
• Town of Farragut – Garbage & Recycling
• Farragut Code of Ordinances (see Chapter 14 – Nuisances & Property Maintenance)
• Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act – Title 68, Chapter 211
Knox County Municipalities & Apartment Recycling Mandates
Within Knox County, only two incorporated municipalities exist – the City of Knoxville and the Town of Farragut. Neither has adopted a dedicated apartment recycling mandate that requires property managers to provide recycling service to residents. Unincorporated communities (Powell, Halls, Karns, Corryton, Gibbs, Hardin Valley, etc.) fall under Knox County Solid Waste and rely on convenience centers and private haulers.
| City / Area | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville (City) | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
The City offers voluntary curbside recycling carts to eligible parcels with four or fewer units, plus City drop-off centers and a Solid Waste Management Facility. Larger apartment communities are treated as commercial customers and are not required by ordinance to provide recycling to residents. However, all properties must comply with Chapter 13 – Solid Waste (clean, sanitary premises, no illegal dumping, container rules). Key local links: • Knoxville Recycling – Program Overview • Curbside Recycling – Eligibility & Sign-Up • Knoxville Code – Chapter 13 Solid Waste |
| Farragut (Town) | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Farragut does not run municipal trash collection; residents and properties use Knox County convenience centers and private haulers for trash and optional recycling. There is no ordinance requiring apartment properties to provide recycling service. Accumulation of garbage, junk, or litter can be cited as a property maintenance violation under Chapter 14 – Nuisances & Property Maintenance, with potential fines through municipal court. Key local links: • Farragut Garbage & Recycling • Farragut Property Maintenance – Code Enforcement • Farragut Code of Ordinances |
| Unincorporated Knox County (Powell, Halls, Karns, Corryton, Gibbs, Hardin Valley & others) | No dedicated apartment recycling mandate |
Knox County operates a network of convenience centers for residential trash and recycling drop-off and explicitly does not provide curbside pickup of any waste or recycling. Residents and apartment communities must hire private haulers; recycling service is optional and provided by contract. Properties are still expected to prevent illegal dumping and follow solid-waste and zoning rules, and may face enforcement for misuse of convenience centers or improper disposal. Key local links: • Knox County Solid Waste – Convenience Centers • Knoxville/Knox County Recycling & Waste Disposal Guide • Knox County Zoning Ordinance – Enforcement & Penalties |
Knoxville Area Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- City of Knoxville – Illegal Dumping & Solid Waste Violations: Under Chapter 13 – Solid Waste, it is unlawful to place garbage, brush, bulky trash, or other waste on property you do not own, and to allow accumulations of refuse outside approved containers. Violations can be cited and punished through City Court as ordinance offenses, with each day a violation continues potentially treated as a separate offense.
- Farragut – Property Maintenance (Garbage & Litter): Farragut’s Chapter 14 – Nuisances & Property Maintenance treats accumulation of garbage, junk, or litter as a violation. If a responsible party does not correct the issue after notice, the Town may issue a citation to municipal court, where fines of up to $50 per day per violation may be assessed.
- Knox County – Convenience Centers & Disposal Rules: County convenience centers are for residents bringing their own household waste and recycling. Improper use, illegal dumping, or violations of solid-waste and zoning rules can result in citations, loss of convenience center privileges, and additional penalties under the Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act and the Knox County Zoning Ordinance.
- State-Level Framework: The Tennessee Solid Waste Disposal Act provides statewide authority for criminal and civil penalties for unlawful disposal and non-compliance with solid-waste regulations; local enforcement in Knoxville, Knox County, and Farragut operates within this framework.
- Risk Management Tip for Property Managers: Even though there is no apartment recycling mandate, document your waste program – hauler contracts, service logs, photos of enclosures, and resident education – so you can quickly show code officials that your community is managing trash and recycling responsibly.
Knoxville & Knox County Multifamily Waste & Recycling Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Area | Verify whether your community is inside the City of Knoxville, in the Town of Farragut, or in unincorporated Knox County. This determines whether residents have access to City curbside recycling, Knox County convenience centers only, or purely private hauling, and which codes (Chapter 13 or Chapter 14) apply. | Knoxville Service & Sort Tool · Knox County Solid Waste |
| ☑ Right-Size Trash & Optional Recycling | Ensure you have enough container capacity and pick-up frequency to prevent overflow and illegal dumping. If you add recycling for residents, match cart sizes and collection to volume so enclosures stay clean and inspections go smoothly. | Knoxville/Knox County Waste Guide |
| ☑ Meet City or Town Code Expectations | In Knoxville, review Chapter 13 – Solid Waste and the City’s guidelines on carts, bulky items, and illegal dumping. In Farragut, review Chapter 14 – Nuisances & Property Maintenance and correct any accumulation of garbage, junk, or litter before it becomes a cited violation. | Knoxville Chapter 13 · Farragut Code – Chapter 14 |
| ☑ Coordinate With Haulers & Residents | Confirm service details with your trash and recycling haulers (container sizes, pick-up days, contamination procedures) and push out clear instructions to residents so they know exactly how to use the service from their front door to the enclosure or drop-off point. | Knoxville Service Day & Disposal Info |
| ☑ Document Your Program | Keep a simple compliance file: hauler agreements, photos of enclosures, resident education pieces, and any code correspondence. This helps you answer complaints quickly and demonstrate good-faith effort if a code inspector or owner raises concerns. | Illegal Dumping – Reporting & Enforcement |
Want to stay ahead of code enforcement and resident expectations? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Knoxville or Knox County property. We’ll review your current trash and recycling setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the inspector-ready documentation you need to show alignment with local solid-waste and property maintenance standards.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
