How to Recycle Hard-to-Dispose Items in Gallatin and Sumner County

Gallatin residents can take accepted recyclables to the city’s 24-hour recycling center at 641 Long Hollow Pike, but batteries, electronics, paint, tires and appliances require separate handling. Use Batteries Plus Bulbs for listed battery types, contact the Sumner County Resource Authority for electronics and other specialty materials, and use Gallatin’s bulk pickup for eligible appliances if you are a current city trash customer. Check acceptance, fees and hours before loading your vehicle.

Getting rid of an old television, half-full paint can, dead battery, worn tire or large appliance is not the same as putting a bottle or cardboard box in a recycling bin. The correct destination depends on the material, whether you live inside Gallatin city limits, and whether you are disposing of household or business waste.

For the most reliable local starting point, identify the item first, then use the checklist below. Do not place batteries, tires, paint, gasoline, chemicals or electronics in Gallatin’s regular recycling bins or garbage container unless the responsible facility specifically says the material is accepted there. The City of Gallatin says batteries are not accepted in its recycling program, and its garbage guidance excludes tires and hazardous materials.

Start by identifying the item and your jurisdiction

The City of Gallatin operates a recycling center at 641 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066. The city says the center is for Gallatin residents and is open to the public 24 hours a day. It accepts common recyclables such as cardboard, paper, aluminum, steel cans, glass containers, selected plastic bottles and textiles—not every material that happens to contain plastic or metal.

Specialty materials are generally handled through one of three routes:

1. A local retailer or specialty recycler, such as a battery drop-off or electronics recycler.
2. The Sumner County Resource Authority, commonly called RASCO, at 625 Rappahannock Wire Road in Gallatin.
3. A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation household hazardous-waste event for qualifying household chemicals and related materials.

Businesses and landlords should not assume that a household drop-off program covers commercial quantities. Tennessee guidance says many community electronic-waste programs are designed for households, while commercial and institutional generators generally need to work directly with an electronics recycler or other qualified waste contractor..

Where to take common hard-to-dispose items

Item — Local route — Important limitation or next step

Electronics and computers — Contact RASCO at 615-452-1114; Tennessee also lists Electronics Recycling Solutions in Gallatin — Confirm accepted equipment, fees, data-destruction service and business quantities before delivery

Paint and household hazardous waste — Contact RASCO; use the state’s scheduled Sumner County HHW event for qualifying household materials — Do not pour paint or chemicals down a drain or place them in ordinary trash

Batteries and bulbs — Batteries Plus Bulbs, 1545 Nashville Pike, or another confirmed battery program — Confirm the exact battery or bulb type and current store policy

Tires — RASCO’s tire service — Tires must be off the rim; tractor tires are not accepted at RASCO

Appliances and bulky items — Gallatin bulk pickup for eligible city trash customers; otherwise call RASCO or the service provider — City bulk pickup is limited to current City of Gallatin trash customers

Used motor oil and some automotive fluids — Participating automotive retailers and RASCO for listed materials — Never mix fluids or pour used oil into a drain or onto the ground

Electronics and computers

The City of Gallatin directs residents with electronics and computers to the Sumner County Resource Authority at 615-452-1114. The city also identifies RASCO’s address as 625 Rappahannock Wire Road.

Tennessee’s materials-management information lists Electronics Recycling Solutions, 545 B Airport Road, Gallatin, as accepting categories that include computers, laptops, servers, game systems, office phone systems, cell phones, televisions and monitors, small appliances, cables and batteries. The same listing says the company offers electronics recycling, secure data-device and hard-drive shredding, and business pickup documentation. Because acceptance and service terms can vary by item and customer type, call the facility before taking a load.

Before recycling a computer, phone or tablet:

• Back up files you need.
• Sign out of accounts and remove SIM or memory cards when applicable.
• Use the manufacturer’s reset or data-erasure process.
• Ask the recycler whether it provides documented data destruction, especially for business, rental-property or office equipment.
• Keep loose lithium-ion batteries separate from devices if the recycler gives you that instruction.

Paint and household hazardous waste

Paint, cleaners, oils, pesticides and similar products may qualify as household hazardous waste when they are corrosive, toxic, flammable or reactive. The City of Gallatin says these materials should not be poured down a drain, dumped on the ground or placed in ordinary trash.

RASCO’s current posted rate sheet includes “Electronics, Paint, etc.” as a disposal category and lists a $73-per-ton rate with a $10 minimum. The facility’s posted hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and closed Sunday. Call 615-452-1114 before loading paint or chemicals because acceptance rules, packaging requirements and fees may vary.

Tennessee also schedules household hazardous-waste collection events by county. The 2026 state schedule lists a Sumner County event for Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Moss Wright Park, 705 Caldwell Drive, Goodlettsville, with RASCO listed as the contact at 615-452-1114. This event occurs after the August 15 publication date, so readers should verify current instructions, eligible materials and any quantity or container limits before attending.

Do not mix unknown chemicals, transfer them into food containers or leave leaking containers unattended. If a container is leaking, swollen, hot or otherwise unsafe, contact the responsible waste authority before transporting it.

Batteries and bulbs

Gallatin’s recycling page directs residents to Batteries Plus Bulbs at 1545 Nashville Pike, Suite 104 for batteries and bulbs. The city’s hazardous-waste page lists lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries among the types that may be handled through battery recycling programs.

Call the store before visiting. Retailer participation can differ by product type, size, quantity and condition. Tape or otherwise protect exposed battery terminals when the receiving program instructs you to do so, and do not place damaged or swollen lithium batteries in a regular recycling bin.

Tires

RASCO accepts tires under posted guidelines, but the rules are specific:

• Tires must be removed from the rim.
• Tractor tires are not accepted at RASCO.
• Customers must load tires into the trailer using the required “scissor stacked” method.
• RASCO does not accept tire loads from outside Sumner County.

The posted rate sheet lists mixed tire loads of up to five tires at $5 each and separate rates for manifested and unmanifested tire loads. Confirm the current rate and whether your load qualifies before you go.

Appliances and bulky items

If you are a current City of Gallatin trash customer, the city’s monthly bulk-item service may accept appliances, furniture and scrap metal. You must request service, be placed on the pickup list and follow the city’s placement rules. The city says items should not be placed at the curb more than five days before pickup, and scheduling closes at 3:30 p.m. on the Wednesday before pickup.

The city excludes hazardous waste, gas tanks, tires, construction debris and many remodeling materials from bulk pickup. Small appliances and other items that fit in a regular garbage container are also not eligible for this service. Call Gallatin Environmental Services at 615-452-2147 if you are unsure whether an appliance qualifies.

Residents outside the city’s trash-service area should contact their municipal provider, private hauler or RASCO before transporting an appliance. Businesses and landlords should ask specifically about commercial quantities, refrigerant-containing equipment and pickup documentation.

Used motor oil and automotive fluids

The City of Gallatin lists local used-motor-oil drop-off options including Advance Auto Parts at 160 W. Broadway, AutoZone at 110 E. Broadway and O’Reilly Auto Parts at 1209 S. Water Avenue. Tennessee’s automotive-fluid directory also lists RASCO as accepting used oil and batteries, while other locations may accept only selected materials..

Keep used oil in a clean, closed container and never mix it with gasoline, antifreeze, brake cleaner or other fluids. Call the receiving location first to confirm the material, container size and quantity it accepts.

A simple drop-off checklist

Before leaving home:

1. Sort by material. Keep batteries, paint, electronics, tires, oil and ordinary recyclables separate.
2. Check the jurisdiction. City of Gallatin services may be limited to city residents or city trash customers.
3. Call ahead. Confirm acceptance, fees, hours, quantity limits and whether appointments are required.
4. Secure the load. Cover or contain items so they cannot fall from the vehicle or leak.
5. Bring identification or account information if requested. A city service or household event may have eligibility rules.
6. Protect personal data. Erase devices and ask businesses about certificates or documented data destruction.
7. Do not abandon materials at a closed facility. Return during posted hours or contact the facility for instructions.

RASCO also requires users to follow facility directions, keep children and animals inside vehicles, wear enclosed shoes and obey load-inspection instructions.

Options for businesses and landlords

Businesses, property managers and landlords may generate larger or more frequent quantities of electronics, paint, appliances, batteries or tires than a household. Before moving materials, make a written list of the items and approximate quantities, then ask RASCO or a direct recycler:

• Is commercial or multifamily material accepted?
• Is there a minimum charge or per-item fee?
• Are pickup and loading services available?
• Can the provider document recycling or disposal?
• Are refrigerants, damaged batteries, fluorescent lamps or unknown chemicals handled separately?
• What records should the business retain?

Tennessee guidance says commercial and institutional electronic-waste generators generally need to manage e-scrap directly rather than rely on household community programs.

What not to put in Gallatin recycling bins

Gallatin’s standard recycling program does not accept batteries, plastic bags and wrap, tanglers such as hoses and cords, non-container glass, Styrofoam, food or liquids. The city emphasizes that dirty or incorrect materials can contaminate an entire load. Keep specialty materials out of the recycling bins and use the appropriate destination instead.

Official contacts and next steps

• City of Gallatin Environmental Services: 615-452-2147 for city recycling, garbage and bulk-pickup questions.
• Gallatin Recycling Center: 641 Long Hollow Pike, for accepted standard recyclables from Gallatin residents.
• Sumner County Resource Authority: 625 Rappahannock Wire Road, Gallatin; 615-452-1114; Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tennessee household hazardous-waste program: Check the current state schedule before attending an event.

The safest rule is simple: if an item contains chemicals, pressurized contents, a battery, a screen, a motor, refrigerant or a large metal component, do not guess. Call the responsible facility before putting it in a bin or at the curb.

Last verified: August 15, 2026. This guide should be reviewed again by November 13, 2026, or sooner if Gallatin, RASCO or Tennessee changes its hours, rates, acceptance rules or event schedule.