Planners have a lot on their checklists before launching an event, and Keep Knoxville Beautiful would like to add one more – and make it easy for them.
Thanks to a grant from the Alcoa Foundation, Keep Knoxville Beautiful has launched Knox County’s first Recycling Trailer for free use at community events.
Allison Teeters, the executive director of Keep Knoxville Beautiful, is thrilled to share the Recycling Trailer with planners as part of the promotion of green and sustainable events.
“We have seen several other communities throughout the country doing it; when the Alcoa Foundation offered to fund it, we jumped at the chance,” Teeters said.
The mobile recycling unit is available to event planners by contacting the office of Keep Knoxville Beautiful – call 865-521-6957 or email [email protected] – and making a reservation.
Featuring 35 clear stream wire recycling containers and 120 clear recycling bags, the trailer includes everything needed to promote and handle recycling at an event. Designing events that are both elegant and socially responsible doesn’t have to be a challenge thanks to Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
“As soon as you know you want the trailer for your event, call and reserve it,” Teeters said. “We only have one, so it can get booked up quickly.”
Once the trailer has been reserved, Keep Knoxville Beautiful sets a time to fill out paperwork and sign a liability form. After that, the trailer can be picked up at the City of Knoxville Transfer Station at the assigned time. Teeters suggested using someone with a truck or experience pulling a trailer to make the process even smoother. She also noted that insurance on the pulling vehicle is required.
Setting up the Recycling Trailer at the event is a quick and customizable process. The clear stream containers can be removed from the trailer and set up throughout the event. They include signage to help guests know where to recycle and how to separate items.
“This can be used for any event, indoor and outdoor, from festivals to company parties,” Teeters said. “The trailer can be used for anything, even if you just want your event to have a little more of a green focus.”
Post-event, simply load the bags of recyclables onto the trailer and pull it to the nearest recycling center for drop-off. Then, return the trailer to the city’s Transfer Station.
“We always want to try and do new things to make life easier,” Teeters said.
Keep Knoxville Beautiful is dedicated to litter eradication, recycling and beautification efforts in Knox County, and its signature event is The Orchids, which will be held this year at the Foundry. The Recycling Trailer will be on-site for promotion.
“People either live, work, play here or all of the above,” Teeters said. “This is our home, we need to take care of it, we need be thinking beyond our own front doors.”
Making Knoxville events greener is one way to do so. Taking little steps toward sustainability and preservation goes a long way in protecting the gorgeous scenery of East Tennessee.
From the rolling hills of Rocky Top to the Tennessee River, Knoxville is one of the most beautiful places in the South. Event planners can partner with Keep Knoxville Beautiful to help sustain that environment.
“When you are already planning an event, why not go ahead and plan on us?” Teeters said.
Savanna Howie, an intern at Moxley Carmichael, is majoring in political science and communication studies at the University of Tennessee. She loves shelter dogs, coffee, yoga and UT football. And recycling.
What a great option! The easier we make recycling, the more likely people are to do it. I will expect to see the trailer at lots of events.
I so agree Gay. This is a wonderful option for event planners. Kudos to Keep Knoxville Beautiful!