Recycling Roundup At The Nissan Smyrna Plant Attracted More Than 400 Households
On November 15, Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) and Nissan North America celebrated America Recycles Day by hosting their fourth Recycling Roundup. This series of free community events is designed to provide services for hard-to-recycle materials, promote environmental education, and reduce the amount of materials sent to local landfills. Approximately 400 neighbors and over 45 volunteers participated, helping to collect more than 74,113 pounds of materials. This event marked the largest turnout in the history of the Recycling Roundup, which was launched in December 2022.
In collaboration with partners including Liberty Tire, S3 Recycling Solutions (for electronics), Knighthorst (for paper shredding), Thriftsmart, Habitat for Humanity, Compost Nashville, Springback, and others, donations were collected for repurposing and recycling. Additionally, representatives from the Rutherford County Pet Adoption and Welfare Service, as well as the Sheriff’s Department, attended the event. The supplies collected for pets will help provide care for the animals in the shelter. Books, art supplies, and sports equipment were collected for Read to Succeed and the Boys and Girls Clubs, highlighting the importance of reuse and recycling. These donated items provide a second chance to empower and inspire children in need through educational and recreational opportunities.
“At Nissan, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and events like the Recycling Roundup show the power of community in driving positive change,” said Parul Bajaj, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Nissan Americas. “We’re proud to partner with Tennessee Environmental Council and local organizations to make recycling more accessible and keep thousands of pounds of material out of landfills. Together, we’re building a more sustainable future for Tennessee and beyond.”
Camila Palmer, Recycling Roundup program manager at TEC, said, “We are excited and grateful to collaborate for another successful Recycling Roundup. This first event in Smyrna, along with three previous annual events held in Franklin, TN, has enabled us to divert over 155,000 pounds of materials from the local landfill. We are pleased to see that awareness is growing, encouraging more people to get involved in keeping Nashville clean.
We look forward to our next event in Franklin in April to celebrate Earth Day!”
