Let’s step back to the year 1990. The Town purchased a rear-loader garbage truck that made more than 200 stops per day, requiring two workers to operate it. Fast forward to today, the Town makes more than 600 stops per day with a more effective and efficient automated side-loader garbage truck, and only one employee is needed to operate the machinery. This new automated system of trash removal keeps Jonesborough’s waste management employees safe and healthy.
Contact
| Vince Sicca | Director of the Solid Waste and Recycling | 423.735.8890 |
| Solid Waste Office | 423.753.1006 | |
| General Contact | Town Hall | 423.753.1031 |
Vince Sicca
Director of the Solid Waste and Recycling Department
Town of Jonesborough, TennesseeMission Statement
To be recognized throughout our community for providing excellent solid waste & recycling collection services, which provides a sustainable quality of life.
Jonesborough’s Department of Solid Waste operates out of the Pliny Fisk Composting and Recycling Center which is located off W. Main Street near the railroad tracks at 101 Britt Drive.
The Jonesborough Solid Waste Department provides solid waste services, brush disposal and mulch sales Monday through Friday, from 7 am – 3:30 pm. No mulch loading will take place during the lunch hour, noon – 1 pm, or after 3:30 pm. Residents are encouraged to call the Jonesborough Solid Waste Department at 423-753-1006 of 423-791-1382 to make arrangements for loading of wood or leaf mulch.
The Solid Waste Department is responsible for providing solid waste, junk and brush collection, mulch sales as well as a comprehensive recycling program. CJonesborough also provides leaf collection services during leaf season, however that service is provided through Jonesborough’s Street Department and which can be reached at 423–753–1004.
Residential Garbage Collection
Placement for Collection
Jonesborough picks up residential garbage on a weekly schedule. Every household is provided one 95-gallon collection tote at no charge. Totes can be placed at the street curb after 5 pm for collection the next day. The resident must bring the garbage tote to the street and place the tote with the lid hinge away from the street along the curb where it can be reached by the automated side-loader collection vehicle. All refuse must be inside the tote and not placed separately along the curb for collection. If more than one tote is set out, they must be at least five (5′) feet apart. Totes must be placedaway from power or utility lines and overhanging branches. Residents can assist in protecting Town staff and keeping costs low by placing totes in the proper position along the street.
Storage of Garbage Totes
After the tote has been emptied, residents must move the tote from the street to the rear of the premise by 7 pm the day of collection.
Collection Schedule
Residential collection for areas in Jonesborough are normally scheduled on the same day each week. Normal collection schedules may vary for holidays. Notification of holiday changes are most often advertised in the daily newspaper and online on the Town’s website and facebook page. Residents may also call Town Hall at 423–753–1030 to inquire about any possible change in refuse collection schedule.
Additional Garbage Totes
Residents may buy an additional residential garbage tote as per Title 17 Refuse and Trash Disposal Chapter 3 Section 17-303. The cost of the additional tote may vary periodically depending on the Town’s purchase cost. The current charge for an additional tote is a one-time fee of $56. Residents or businesses that operate with two or more garbage totes will be charged an additional $17.50.00 per month for the pick-up of each additional weekly refuse tote. Any tote that is lost, stolen or damaged by the user shall be replaced by the user at their own expense as per Title 17 Refuse and Trash Disposal Chapter 3 Section 17-303.
Residential Garbage Fees
The Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen set garbage collection fees annually during the Town’s budget process each June. Current residential collection fees are $17.50 per month.
Special Assistance Programs
Jonesborough can provide special assistance for elderly and physically disabled residents. For more information on these programs call the Director of Solid Waste at 423–753–1006.
Junk Collection
The Town normally picks up junk, old furniture, mattresses, box springs, and large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines once a week on Fridays. Because this material is often more time consuming to collect, there is not a regular route throughout town. Residents must call Town Hall at 423–753–1040 before 12:00 pm on Thursday’s to notify the Town of the need for a pick up. Residents must place the items along the street before 7 am on Friday.
E-Waste Collection
Electronic devices are considered hazardous waste and these items may not be placed in regular collection containers. Jonesborough picks up e-waste on Fridays. The Town does not run an e-waste route throughout the Town, so residents must call the Solid Waste Department at 423–753–1006 or Town Hall at 423–753–1031 to notify the Town of what items are being set out for pick-up and their location. The Town must be notified of the items by 12:00 pm the Thursday before pick-up. There is no charge for e-waste collection.
Residents may also take e-waste to any of the Washington County Convenience Center for disposal. Locations of these Centers can be found by visiting the Washinton County, Tennessee Solid Waste website.
The following items are examples of e-waste materials collected by Jonesborough:
- printers, monitors, copiers, key boards, and scanners
- stereo equipment and speakers
- cell phones. telephones, VCR’s, and DVD players
- microwave ovens and small kitchen appliances
- cameras
- computers (lap tops & desk models), and computer mouse
- fax machines, and GPS units
- video’s games, and PDA’s
- electronic circuit boards
Compost and Mulch Sales
The Town uses a tub grinder to grind up tree branches and trimmings. Yard waste grinding takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. The grinder uses a screen that creates a ½ inch – 1 inch wood mulch that is excellent for flower bedding and weed protection. The Town also processes leaves for use as mulch and as a soil amendment. Wood and leaf mulch can be purchased by visiting the Jonesborough Mulch and Brush Disposal Facility located at 130 Britt Drive The Town does not deliver mulch. Mulch can be purchased Tuesday and Thursday from 7 am – 3:30 pm. No loading will take place during the 12:00 – 1 pm, or after 3:00 pm. Anyone can purchase wood or leaf mulch with credit card or cash through the Town Hall prior to coming the mulch site Payment by checks will be accepted at the mulch site.
The current mulch fees are as follows:
- A bucketful of wood mulch – $10.00 plus tax. = $10.95
- Leaf mulch (finely ground/rotted leaves) – $16.00 a bucketful plus tax. = $17.52
Roll-Off Containers
Jonesborough does not provide roll-off collection service. This service is provided by the City of Johnson City or by other private haulers in the area. The Town of Jonesborough does not promote any service providers.
Residential Tree Trimming/Removal
Tree brush and other green waste generated directly by the work of residents can be placed properly along the right-of-way for Town pick-up. The Town’s brush truck travels on a set schedule of streets throughout the Town Monday – Thursday, but the actual day of pick-up may vary depending on the work schedule and the weather. Residents with a large amount of brush must contact the Director of Solid Waste at 423–753–1006 to notify of the amount of brush and the location. Residents may also dispose of brush at the brush disposal site located at 110 Britt Drive. Jonesborough accepts all brush and yard waste from Washington County residents.
Commercial Garbage Collection
Dumpsters vs. Garbage Totes
The Town of Jonesborough provides commercial garbage collection to all businesses, offices and industries within Jonesborough’s city limits. Businesses may use 95-gallon totes, or 8 cubic yard dumpsters. One 95-gallon tote is provided to any business, residence or multi-family unit. Additional totes, up to four (4), can be purchased at the Town’s current cost of $56. + tax plus $17.50 per week pick up charge, per tote. Jonesborough picks up dumpsters with a front-loading garbage truck. The Town’s Director of Solid Waste must approve the location of all dumpsters and the Town of Jonesborough must collect the commercial solid waste.
Commercial enterprises, apartments, condos, etc. may use up to five (5) 95-gallon garbage totes for weekly service. If up to five (5) totes are used at one location, the totes placement must be approved by the Director of Solid Waste. The totes must be placed far enough apart so that they can be easily handled by the automatic side-loading collection truck. All refuse must be inside a tote. Otherwise, the material outside the tote will not be picked up. If more than five (5) totes are needed, a dumpster must be used. Dumpsters must be rented through the Town.
Dumpster Location for Pick-Up
The placement of and access to a dumpster must be approved in advance by the Director of Solid Waste. Dumpster must be placed on a solid pad, preferably concrete, and the pad location and angle of dumpster placement must allow the Town’s collection vehicle to safely travel through the site during collection. The dumpster location must be away from all power or utility lines, as well as overhanging tree branches or building roofs. All curves in the access route must have a large enough radius for the Town’s collection vehicle to safely maneuver without having to back up.
Dumpster Screening
Screening within the Historic District must be approved in advance by the Historic Zoning Commission.
Rental Dumpsters
Dumpsters are available for rental through the Town. The rental cost of an 8 yard cubic yard dumpster is $50 per month plus $115 per pick up charge one time per week.. You can order a dumpster or tote by contacting the Jonesborough Water Department at 423-753-1040. Payment for a dumpster or additional tote must be made in advance at the Town Recorder’s Office at Town Hall in Jonesborough.
Collection Schedule
Multiple totes used for business, multi-family residential units, office complexes, etc. are scheduled on the residential collection routes. Dumpster pick-up may be scheduled more than one day per week depending on the volume of refuse being generated at a business, at an additional collection fee.
Dumpster and Multiple Tote Collection Fees
Refuse collection rates are normally set annually by the Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen during the budget process in June.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste items are collected under the direction of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, usually two times a year, at a location determined by Washington County. Historically, the one day collection events takes place at Daniel Boon High School. Please visit the Washington County, Tennessee Solid Waste website for more information and collection dates. Hazardous waste may not be placed in garbage totes or recycling bins. Homeowners must store them until a hazardous waste pick-up is scheduled. Jonesborough is not authorized to collect or transport hazardous waste except e-waste that is collected. The following items are considered hazardous: used motor oil, anti-freeze, pesticides, aerosols, batteries, items with mercury, electronics (unless recycled), radioactive waste, paints and solvents.
Policies Governing Tree and Green Waste Collection
Jonesborough grinds tree trunks and limbs in a ten (10’) foot tub grinder. Limbs that are too long can get caught in the chain drive and cause equipment breakdowns. Therefore, when cutting up trees and brush for transport to the Town’s brush collection facility, the following guidelines must be followed:
- Brush shall be placed parallel to the street with the larger ends placed in the same direction.
- Brush or debris may not be placed in or hanging over the street.
- Brush must be placed clear of power lines or overhanging trees to protect the safety of Town employees.
- The brush must be placed close enough to the street to be reached by the collection truck and there must be enough room to allow the knuckle-boom brush truck to operate.
- All fence materials or metal of any kind must be removed from the brush pile. If metal or other such material that can damage the tub grinder equipment is seen, the brush/yard waste will not be picked up.
- Processed lumber and other such construction material will not be picked up with tree trimmings, brush or green waste.
- The Town will not pick up tree stumps and roots with normal brush collection. Residents may contact the Director of Solid Waste to request tree stump collection. The Town may pick up a tree stump if it is not large or heavy, and it is clean of dirt, wire and stone. The tree stump must also be located where it can be accessed by the Town’s collection vehicle.
Contract Tree Trimming/Removal
Tree material, trimmings and brush generated as a result of work undertaken by the contractor must be collected, conveyed or transported, and disposed of by the contractor. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that the tree brush and trimmings generated through contracted work is transported by the contractor. The Town of Jonesborough does not accept tree brush and trimmings from contractors at the Town’s brush collection facility.
KEEP JONESBOROUGH BEAUTIFUL
Mission Statement
To engage and educate our community in celebrating and protecting our Earth
The Keep Jonesborough Beautiful Advisory Council is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Tennessee Beautiful. The goal and objective of these organizations are to educate and engage the public about the importance of community revitalization, conservation and economic development, which are solutions to improving the quality of life.
Keep Jonesborough Beautiful is committed to serving the community and providing the community with the necessary “choices and actions that preserve natural beauty, protect the environment, prevent blight, improve public lands, and make our communities better, safer places to live”.
The Advisory Council is an independent non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with a partnership agreement with the Town of Jonesborough. There are nine (9) members on the KJB Advisory Council, four (4) are appointed by the Jonesborough BMA and five (5) are appointed by the Advisory Council. The terms of members shall be for three (3) years.
If you are interested in volunteering with Keep Jonesborough Beautiful or have a comment, question or concern please reach out to Lauren Little.
Keep Jonesborough Beautiful Board
| Ashley Cavender | Chair |
| Mark Merriman | Secretary |
| Kay Grogg | Vice Chair |
| Jessica Hartley | Treasurer |
| Terry Countermine | Alderman |
| Sandy Countermine | |
| Chris Craig | Solid Waste & Recycling Director |
| Lauren Little | Town Staff |
