The center is being operated by the City of Knoxville's Solid Waste Division and will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., seven days a week. It will primarily serve downtown businesses and residents.

It does not accept household garbage.

The downtown recycling center can take cardboard, glass, newspaper, mixed papers and other recyclable items. In addition a Goodwill trailer will be installed at the center in the near future.

In the interim an attendant from Goodwill will be at the recycling center to accept donations.

The downtown recycling center is the result of a joint effort between the City of Knoxville and Knox County.

The property belongs to Knox County, which is leasing it to the city at no cost.

City Council and the Knox County Commission approved the agreement earlier this month.

The property at 400 State Street 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.

For more information about the center please contact John Homa, the city's solid waste reduction specialist, at 215-2872 or Grant Rosenberg, with Knox County, at 215-4571 or 755-3065.