City of Chattanooga Launches Pilot Program to Divert Food and Glass Waste from Landfills

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Starting now through June 30, 2026, the City of
Chattanooga will launch two new recycle pilot programs aimed at reducing
landfill waste and promoting responsible recycling. In partnership with
NewTerra Composting and Overlooked Materials, the city will offer curbside
food waste composting and glass recycling collection to select residents,
with the initial rollout focused primarily in the Brainerd area.

These pilot programs are designed to address two major contributors to
landfill waste:

Food waste, which accounts for almost 25% of landfill content and
is the third
largest source of methane emissions nationwide.(source
<https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/methane-emissions>)

Glass, 90% of which ends up in landfills, despite being fully recyclable
and locally reusable in construction, stormwater management, tile
production, and more. The-50-States-of-Recycling-2.pdf
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GnfOGXj8ktpB-i_YvMCDDSfOC7ePnqCM/view?usp=drive_link>

New Terra Compost, a locally owned and operated business, will lead the
food waste collection program. The company specializes in turning food
scraps into nutrient-rich compost, helping to divert organic material from
landfills while enriching local soil. To sign up for the curbside
composting program, visit the following link: Curbside Trial
<https://www.newterracompost.com/chattanooga-curbside-compost-trial>

In addition to curbside pickup in the pilot area, a drop-off kiosk will
also be installed at each of Chattanooga’s five recycling centers,
accessible to all residents within city limits. Residents interested in
dropping their own compostable materials off at one of the City’s recycling
centers <https://chattanooga.gov/services/waste-recycling/recycling> may
sign up here: City Kiosk Trial
<https://www.newterracompost.com/chattanoga-kiosk-trial>

Overlooked Materials, a Chattanooga-based recycling and circular products
company, will lead the curbside glass recycling program. They specialize in
recycling hard-to-process materials like glass and transforming them into
useful products. To sign up for the curbside glass recycling program, visit
the following link: Curbside Glass Pilot
<https://overlookedmaterials.com/pilot>

The composting program is being funded through a Organics Management grant
from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)’s
Division of Solid Waste Management.
How to Participate

Participation in both pilot programs is voluntary and requires sign-up
directly through the partner organizations’ websites. Participation is only
open to residents. Businesses are not eligible.

New Terra Composting: Learn more about the curbside program and sign up
at this link:
https://www.newterracompost.com/chattanooga-curbside-compost-trial

Overlooked Materials: Learn more about the program and sign up at
https://overlookedmaterials.com/pilot. For questions, email
chattanoogapilot@overlookedmaterials.com

Participants in the program will receive specific instructions and
dedicated containers for separating their food and glass waste upon
enrollment. This effort highlights how local solutions and partnerships can
have a powerful, positive impact on our community, our economy, and our
environment.

The pilot programs will initially serve residents in the following
neighborhoods: