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E-Waste and Battery Recycling

Small batteries, printer/toner cartridges, and small electronics can be mailed to us for recycling via UT Mail Services or brought to the Public Recycling Drop-Off.

Many residence halls also have bins for these items, but locations vary from hall to hall. Ask your office assistant at the front desk of your residence hall to find a deposit closer to home.

A pile of dead batteries waiting to be recycled.

What to Recycle

Battery iconBatteries

  • When mailing batteries, only include batteries in the envelope. Do not send with printer cartridges or electronics in the same envelope.
  • If batteries are rechargeable, please cover the positive and negative ends with tape.
  • Batteries must be able to fit in a campus mail envelope.
  • Take larger batteries to the Public Recycling Drop-Off outside dock 24 of the Facilities Warehouse at 2121 Stephenson Drive, submit a work request via Archibus, e-mail sustainability@utk.edu, or call 865-974-3480 to request a pickup.

Printer iconPrinter/Toner Cartridges

  • Toner cartridges should stay in their original box. Write “Recycling” on them and drop them off at your department’s Campus Mail pickup location.
  • Printer/toner cartridges must be mailed separately. Do not send batteries or electronics in the same box.

Small electronics iconSmall Electronics

  • Electronics must be able to fit in a campus mail envelope.
  • When sending, please write “Recycling” as the recipient.
  • Examples: broken mice, iPods, CDs.
  • Do not include batteries or printer cartridges with these or other electronic items. Batteries and printer cartridges must be mailed separately.
  • Take larger electronics to the Public Recycling Drop Off outside dock 24 of the Facilities Warehouse at 2121 Stephenson Drive, submit a work request through Archibus, e-mail sustainability@utk.edu or call 865-974-3480 to request a pickup.

How it Works

Option 1: Mail Them

 

  • Items must be placed in a UT campus mail envelope or in original box for toner cartridges. You can find a UT campus envelope in most academic buildings, offices, and residence hall mailrooms.
  • Address the envelope or original toner cartridge box to “Recycling.”
  • Please only mail non-leaking batteries or printer cartridges.
  • Please mail batteries, printer cartridges, and electronics separately from one another.

Public dropoffOption 2: Public Recycling Drop-Off

  • Bring your E-waste and batteries to the designated bin(s) at the Public Recycling Dropoff.

Option 3: Check your Residence Hall or Department

  • Visit the front desk of your residence hall or department and ask an office assistant if there is an e-waste deposit somewhere in the building.