SMYRNA, Tenn. — Nissan is teaming up with the Tennessee Environmental Council to host the Nissan Recycling Roundup in celebration of America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The event will take place at the Nissan Smyrna Plant, Gate 5, located on Nissan Drive in Smyrna.

The recycling roundup invites Middle Tennessee residents to drop off a wide variety of household items for reuse, recycling, or safe disposal. Mila Palmer is helping to organize the event and listed some of the items that can be disposed of on Saturday... Non-perishable food items such as peanut butter, canned goods, pasta, and cereal will also be accepted for donation.

Volunteers are helping fuel the free disposal day and will assist unloading vehicles as guests pull into the parking lot at Gate 5.

Palmer said that additional volunteers are still needed... Those interested in helping should simply show up on Saturday morning at around 7:30 for site set-up. You can also sign-up through their website (Click Here).

This free event is part of a statewide effort to encourage responsible recycling and environmental stewardship.

Accepted materials fall into several categories:

• Compostable items (yard waste, pumpkins, food waste)

• Recyclables (plastic, styrofoam, cardboard, aluminum cans, broken appliances, and more)

• Home goods (electronics, books, eyeglasses, furniture, and medical supplies)

• Recreational (sports and art supplies)

• Non-perishable food for local food banks

• Medication disposal for safe community health practices

Nissan’s “Neighbors” partners — including Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, and Read To Succeed — will benefit from the donations collected.

Again, area residents can drop off yard waste, food waste, tires (up to 8-tires can be dropped off for free and anything over 8 will be charged at $2 each), electronics, cardboard, aluminum cans, clothing, and even medications.

This event is free and open to all Tennessee residents. Organizers ask that participants bring only residential waste (no business materials). For more information or to view a full list of acceptable and restricted items, visit TECTN.org/NissanSmyrnaRecycles or contact ginger@tectn.org or 615-379-8259.

Recycle on a Regular Basis - Donna Barrett, chair of the Central Tennessee Solid Waste Planning Board, says that those wanting to begin recycling on a regular basis, shouldn't feel anxious by taking on the task... For those who can't make it to the free event this Saturday outside the Nissan plant in Smyrna can visit RecycleRightTN.com to find recycling drop-off sites near them.