In partnership with City eWaste, free drop-off stations at eight convenience centers are solving the residential eWaste problem at scale, at no cost to residents or the counties.
Middle TN, August 12th, 2026 – Until recently, residents of Rutherford and Williamson counties had no free, reliable way to recycle the electronics piling up in their garages and closets. Old phones, computers, and appliances went where most discarded electronics in America still go: into the trash and on to the landfill, while valuable resources like copper, aluminum, and precious metals were lost for good. Tennessee has no statewide electronics recycling law, so with regional landfill capacity tightening and the cost of hauling waste rising every year, counties were left with a problem that only got more expensive to ignore.
Two Middle Tennessee counties have stepped up to solve this. In the first six months of 2026, residents of Rutherford and Williamson counties recycled 392,944 pounds, nearly 200 tons, of electronics through free drop-off stations at eight county convenience centers, operated in partnership with Franklin-based City eWaste. That is roughly the weight of 755 barrels of Tennessee whiskey, kept out of the regional landfill for good, at no cost to residents or county budgets.
From left to right: Erin Westrich, Head of Operations, City eWaste. Matt Davis, Rutherford County Solid Waste Director. Matthew Rogers, CEO & Founder, City eWaste
Rutherford County: Back-to-Back Record Collection Volumes
Rutherford County, home to more than 360,000 residents and rapidly growing communities including Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and La Vergne, also hosts the regional landfill serving some 30 Middle Tennessee counties, with roughly 70% of the waste buried there arriving from outside the county. That is why Rutherford County has made landfill diversion a top priority. In January 2026, the county partnered with City eWaste to offer free electronics recycling at its Smyrna, Leanna, and Rockvale convenience centers.
The program’s first six months have set the pace for the entire region. Rutherford County residents diverted 104.7 tons (209,394 lbs) since January. Its first quarter, 50.4 tons, was the largest recorded quarterly volume in the City eWaste municipal collection network. Collections went up another 8% in the second quarter, to 54.3 tons.
“We’re thankful to Matt Davis, Rutherford County’s Director of Solid Waste, for believing in our shared vision of secure, accessible, and community-driven electronics recycling. The more communities we can reach, the less hazardous material enters our environment,” said Matthew Rogers, CEO of City eWaste.
“I have to report that City eWaste has been a really good partner to our department,” said Matt Davis. “They always answer any concerns we have and make sure that even with this large volume coming in, they keep up with it. So we always have room for more.”
From left to right: Matthew Rogers, CEO & Founder, City eWaste. Mac Nolen, Williamson County Solid Waste Director. Erin Westrich, Head of Operations, City eWaste
Williamson County: First Convenience Center Drop-Off Partnership with City eWaste
Williamson County, Tennessee’s wealthiest county and one of the most affluent in the nation, generates a proportionate stream of upgraded electronics. Since January 2025, the county’s partnership with City eWaste has put a free drop-off station within a short drive of every resident: five convenience centers, at Nolensville, Grassland, Thompson Station, Fairview, and Pinewood, covering the county from corner to corner.
Halfway through 2026, the numbers show what that head start built: 91.8 tons (183,550 lbs) diverted from January to June this year. Williamson County was the first county to build this modelwith City eWaste, the blueprint Rutherford County has now adopted. Unanimously approved by the Williamson County Commission, the partnership has been a labor of love between City eWaste, the county’s Solid Waste Department, and a community that wants to see responsible recycling grow.
“Used electronics don’t belong in landfills. They can be transformed into jobs, capital, and renewable resources, if we handle them the right way,” said Rogers. “We’re showing other states what it looks like when a community comes together to mine value and take responsibility for its own waste.”
“It has been a pleasure partnering with City eWaste,” said Joshua Fann, Executive Director of Keep Williamson Beautiful. “We are glad that with this partnership we have diverted electronics out of the landfill, and those electronics have been repurposed. As there becomes more of a focus on recycling throughout Tennessee, a partnership with City eWaste is a great first step for any waste disposal site or business.”
City eWaste Pioneers the Way Forward for Free and Secure Municipal Recycling
Every municipality pays a per-pound fee to load, transport, and dispose of waste at the landfill. City eWaste’s model takes the electronics weight off the county’s books entirely, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands in landfill fees over the life of a program. The company provides the collection containers, hauling, secure data destruction, and quarterly reporting at no cost to the municipality or residents, and collected devices are evaluated for refurbishment or responsibly broken down so their materials re-enter the secondary market through the right channels.
The model is already at work across Middle Tennessee with the City of Franklin’s BOPAE department, Williamson County, and Rutherford County.
For more information about City eWaste, visit www.cityewaste.com.
To learn how City eWaste can bring a no-cost, high-impact electronics recycling program to your community, visit www.cityewaste.com/municipal-recycling or contact Erin at (615) 807-0520.
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Where to Drop Off Your Electronics For Free Recycling
City eWaste accepts anything with a battery or plug, except lightbulbs, liquids and chemicals, tube/CRT TVs, household batteries, and large household appliances.
Rutherford County residents:
- Smyrna Convenience Center – 112 G Street, Smyrna, TN 37167
- Leanna Convenience Center – 4303 Sulphur Springs Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- Rockvale Convenience Center – 9002 Rockvale Road, Rockvale, TN 37153
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. · Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ·
Closed Monday and Thursday. Sundays are for household garbage only (no electronics).
Williamson County residents:
- Nolensville Convenience Center – 1525 Owen Road, Brentwood, TN 37027
- Grassland Convenience Center – 1495 Sneed Road, Brentwood, TN 37027
- Thompson Station Convenience Center – 1515B Thompson’s Station Road West, Thompson’s Station, TN 37179
- Fairview Convenience Center – 2714 Fairview Boulevard, Fairview, TN 37062
- Landfill Convenience Center – 5750 Pinewood Road, Franklin, TN 37064
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. · Saturday and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
About City eWaste
City eWaste is reframing electronic waste from being “just trash” into a stream of untapped value. Traditionally, Tennesseans have thought of old electronics as clutter that ends up in a landfill. We’re changing that mindset by showing that eWaste is both a resource and an opportunity.
Based in Franklin TN, City eWaste makes electronics recycling simple for households and businesses with convenient drop-offs, pickups, and municipal partnerships. Every device collected is an opportunity to rehome (maximising the lifespan of electronics) or recover valuable materials (into the local manufacturing chain); all the while creating steady employment in our communities.
By launching the nation’s first eWaste franchise right here in Tennessee, we’re creating a blueprint for counties across the state to scale sustainable recycling programs without relying on limited municipal budgets. Tennessee isn’t just managing eWaste anymore – it’s pioneering how the rest of the country can tackle it.
For more information, please contact:
Erin Westrich
Head of Operations, City eWaste
erin@cityewaste.com
(615) 807-0520
