Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale announced that the city and county are working together to establish the first downtown recycling center located at 401 State Street is bounded by S. Central, State, Union and Commerce Streets. The two mayors will sign an agreement that calls for the city to develop the recycling center on the county-owned property, which Knox County is leasing to the city at no cost.

The proposed agreement was approved by the Knox County Commission on Monday and Knoxville's City Council followed by approving it on Tuesday night."This is something that a lot of our downtown residents and businesses have expressed an interest in developing and I think it will see a lot of service," Haslam said. "We're grateful to the county for working with us to make this a reality." Ragsdale also indicated that the agreement would be a great benefit for residents. "I am excited to see this site used to better serve our downtown citizens," Ragsdale said. "This is a great example of city and county governments working together and moving forward in a positive way. "Under the terms of the agreement the city will operate the recycling center for two years and there are provisions for two additional two-year extensions in the contract. The property was developed into a parking lot five years ago and will continue to serve as both long- and short-term parking for downtown residents and businesses; only the southwest portion of the property will be leased to the city for the recycling center. The facility, expected to be open by mid-December, will be operated by the City of Knoxville's Solid Waste Division and will include six recycling centers and a Goodwill trailer with an attendant and donation collection box.

For more information about the center please contact John Homa, the city's solid waste reduction specialist, at 865-215-2872 or Grant Rosenberg, the county's Deputy Director of the Office of Neighborhoods at 865-215-4751.