The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Cumberland and Jefferson counties this Saturday.

That includes cleaning fluids, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals and more. You don’t have to live in those counties to participate.

You can drop-off items in Jefferson County at the Landfill, on Grove Road in Dandridge and in Cumberland County at the Cumberland County Complex on Livingston Road in Crossville from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is as any unwanted or spent household product that can catch fire easily (flammable), eat away at or irritate living tissue (corrosive), react violently with water or other chemicals (reactive), or be poisonous to humans and animals (toxic). Usable household products may exhibit hazardous properties, but until they become a waste they are not appropriate for the mobile household hazardous waste program. Review our list of acceptable and unacceptable items before you come to a mobile collection event. https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/sw-mm-household-hazardous-waste-program/sw-mm-household-hazardous-waste-acceptable-unacceptable-items.html.

The average home in Tennessee produces 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year. Typical items disposed of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, swimming pool chemicals, paint thinner and automotive fluids. Some items that are accepted but may be recycled locally and on a year-round basis are used oil, rechargeable batteries, used antifreeze, propane cylinders, and compact fluorescent bulbs. Many of these items are commodities and may generate revenue for the local collection site. Regardless, local collection sites are more convenient for the customer and they help to save the state tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Items no longer accepted at the mobile HHW collections are alkaline batteries, paint, and electronics. Please contact your local Solid Waste Departments for collection and recycling guidance of paint and electronics. Often HHW events are hosted at the county convenience center where paint and electronic scrap are regularly managed. Alkaline batteries sold after May 13, 1996, have no mercury added and may be discarded in the regular trash. 

Please go to https://www.tn.gov/environment/sw-mm-household-hazardous-waste-program.html for more information.

Knoxville Fire Investigators say they have determined the cause of a house fire in South Knoxville which left a dog dead

Officials say the fire was due to a bathroom wall heater that was left on with combustible materials nearby.

Crews called to the 1800 Block of Beech Street yesterday (Sunday) and found heavy smoke coming from the attic. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. The home is a total loss. No injuries were reported.

KFD reminding everyone to keep anything that will burn at least 3 feet away from any heating appliances.