Chattanooga Wood Waste Drop-Off: Know What Belongs Here Before You Load the Truck
Chattanooga’s Wood Recycling Center is a specialized yard-waste facility for raw natural wood, brush and leaves. It is not the correct destination for treated lumber, pallets, plywood, painted wood, demolition debris, railroad ties or ordinary trash.
City residents can use the facility free for qualifying loads within the resident guidelines, while non-city residents, contractors and businesses currently pay a published disposal rate. The center also provides mulch, with separate resident eligibility and load rules.
Quick Answer: Is Your Wood Accepted at Chattanooga’s Wood Recycling Center?
If it is raw natural wood, brush or leaves, the Wood Recycling Center may be the correct destination. If it is treated lumber, plywood, painted or glued wood, pallets, wood with nails, railroad ties, stumps/root balls, dirt, rocks or mixed trash, it is not accepted through the clean wood-waste program.
The facility is at 4063 N. Hawthorne Street, Chattanooga, TN 37406 and the City’s current schedule is Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM–3:50 PM. The City specifically states that 3:50 PM is the final vehicle intake time.
On this page
- Address, hours and contact
- Resident and non-resident fees
- Accepted natural wood
- Rejected wood and debris
- Size and vehicle rules
- Free mulch for residents
- Curbside brush alternative
- Where rejected wood can go
- Contractors and businesses
- Holiday closures
- Before-you-go checklist
- Map and directions
- Official sources
- FAQ
Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center Address, Hours and Contact
After reviewing the material rules below, use the official Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center page to recheck hours and service notices before a holiday or unusual trip.
Wood Disposal Fees: City Residents vs Non-City Users
Eligibility matters because Chattanooga gives city residents a different disposal benefit from non-city residents, businesses and contractors.
| User | Current Published Cost | Important Condition |
|---|---|---|
| City of Chattanooga resident | No charge for qualifying wood waste. | The free resident guideline specifically describes a standard-size pickup truck or single-axle trailer. |
| Non-city resident | $20 per ton. | Only acceptable Wood Recycling Center material qualifies. |
| Business | $20 per ton. | Business loads must still comply with material and size rules. |
| Contractor | $20 per ton. | Land-clearing or unusual material should be confirmed before hauling. |
What the Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center Accepts
The program is intentionally narrow because the material is processed as clean wood and yard waste. The City’s current accepted-material list is short.
Raw natural wood
Untreated natural wood can be accepted when it meets the facility’s condition and size requirements.
Brush
Tree limbs, branches, hedge material and similar natural brush are appropriate when they are not mixed with garbage or construction debris.
Leaves
Leaves are included in the facility’s accepted yard-waste stream. Keep them separate from trash, rocks and other contamination.
Wood and Yard Material Chattanooga Does Not Accept Here
Many items that look like “wood” do not qualify for the Wood Recycling Center because chemicals, glue, hardware, contamination or processing make them unsuitable for the clean natural-wood stream.
| Material | Accepted at Wood Recycling Center? | Why You Should Separate It |
|---|---|---|
| Treated lumber | No | Chemically treated lumber is not part of the raw natural-wood stream. |
| Pallets | No | Pallets are specifically excluded by the City. |
| Glued wood | No | Adhesives make the material different from untreated natural wood. |
| Wood with nails | No | Metal hardware creates processing and safety problems. |
| Paneling / plywood | No | Manufactured sheet wood commonly contains adhesives or processed layers. |
| Painted wood | No | Painted material is outside the clean natural-wood program. |
| Railroad ties | No | Railroad ties are specifically excluded and can contain preservatives. |
| Root balls / stumps | No | The City separately excludes root balls and stumps. |
| Dirt / rocks | No | Soil and stone contaminate the wood-processing stream. |
| Trash | No | The Wood Recycling Center is not a general household-trash facility. |
Wood Size Limits and Vehicle Rules at the Facility
Even natural wood can be refused if it is too large. Chattanooga’s current Wood Recycling Center page lists two key maximum dimensions.
For free resident self-haul disposal, the City’s guideline specifically refers to a standard-size pickup truck or single-axle trailer. City crews do not unload wood from your truck or trailer, so load the vehicle in a way you can unload safely yourself.
Free Mulch Pickup for City of Chattanooga Residents
The Wood Recycling Center does more than receive brush. Chattanooga also makes mulch available to City residents under specific rules.
Can Chattanooga Residents Leave Brush at the Curb Instead?
Yes. Chattanooga runs a separate rotating brush and bulk-trash collection program, so many residents do not need to self-haul normal yard brush. The curbside rules are different from the Wood Recycling Center rules.
| Rule | Curbside Brush Collection | Wood Recycling Center |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Natural wood such as tree limbs and hedge bushes. | Raw natural wood, brush and leaves. |
| Maximum length | 8 feet. | Material over 10 feet is not accepted. |
| Maximum diameter | 18 inches. | Material over 5 feet in diameter is not accepted. |
| Pile size | Maximum 4 feet high. | Vehicle/load rules apply instead. |
| Contractors | Land-clearing contractors are not eligible. | Contractors may use the facility at the published paid rate. |
| Businesses | Not eligible. | Businesses currently pay $20 per ton. |
| Frequency | Up to 12 brush collections at one property within a consecutive 12-month period. | Follow facility operating and load rules. |
For curbside collection, Chattanooga asks residents to keep brush, bulk trash, bagged yard waste and leaves in separate piles, place material near the public street without blocking roads, sidewalks or drainage, and have the material out by 7:00 AM on Monday of the scheduled collection week.
Use the official Chattanooga brush collection page to find the current area schedule.
Where Should Rejected Wood Go in Chattanooga?
A rejection at the Wood Recycling Center does not automatically mean landfill disposal. The correct next route depends on whether the item is household lumber, bulky refuse, construction debris, pallets, railroad ties or another material.
Household lumber
Chattanooga’s Refuse Collection Centers currently list lumber and landscape timbers among accepted residential bulky materials. Verify the exact wood first if it is treated, painted or unusual.
Pallets and railroad ties
The City’s Refuse Collection Centers list both pallets and railroad ties as non-acceptable, so do not simply move these items from the Wood Recycling Center to a refuse center.
Construction / demolition wood
The City Landfill tells City residents not to use the municipal landfill for construction and demolition waste such as building material or wood waste. Verify an appropriate C&D or private disposal route instead.
Review the official Refuse Collection Center rules before moving rejected lumber to another City facility.
Contractors, Businesses and Non-City Residents
The Wood Recycling Center is unusual among Chattanooga’s resident-focused services because the City explicitly allows non-city residents, businesses and contractors to use the facility for acceptable material at the published fee of $20 per ton.
Wood Recycling Center Holiday Closures
Chattanooga currently lists the Wood Recycling Center as closed on the following holidays. Holiday operations can still be affected by special notices, weather or emergency closures, so check the City page before a holiday-week trip.
Winter and spring closures
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
Before-You-Go Chattanooga Wood Recycling Checklist
- Confirm the wood is natural. Treated, painted, glued and manufactured wood belongs in another route.
- Remove contamination. Keep garbage, dirt, rocks and other debris out of the load.
- Check for nails and hardware. Wood containing nails is specifically listed as not accepted.
- Leave pallets behind. Pallets are not part of Chattanooga’s clean wood-recycling program.
- Check length and diameter. Material over 10 feet long or 5 feet in diameter is listed as non-acceptable at the facility.
- Choose self-haul or curbside. City residents with ordinary brush may prefer the rotating brush collection service.
- Use the correct vehicle. The free City-resident guideline specifically describes a standard pickup or single-axle trailer.
- Plan to unload your own wood. Facility crews do not unload incoming customer vehicles.
- Arrive before 3:50 PM. That is the City’s stated last-vehicle intake time.
- Bring an approved payment method when required. Non-city residents, businesses and contractors should not arrive expecting to pay cash.
- Cover outgoing mulch. City residents collecting mulch must cover the load before leaving.
- Check holiday status. The facility closes for multiple City holidays and can have temporary operational notices.
Wood Recycling Center Map and Directions
The Wood Recycling Center is on North Hawthorne Street in Chattanooga. Use the map for routing, but use Chattanooga.gov for the final decision about hours, acceptable wood and current service notices.
Official Chattanooga Sources Used for This Guide
The City of Chattanooga controls the facility rules, fee table, curbside brush program and alternative disposal services summarized on this page.
Wood Recycling Center
Primary source for address, hours, fees, accepted and rejected material, payment methods, size limits and mulch rules.
Open official Wood Recycling Center pageBrush & Bulk Trash Collection
Official curbside brush rules covering collection rotation, pile placement, size limits and contractor/business restrictions.
Open brush collection guidanceRefuse Collection Centers
Useful when a City resident has household lumber or other bulky material that does not belong in clean wood recycling.
Open refuse center rulesChattanooga Waste & Recycling
City service hub for garbage, recycling, HHW, refuse centers, brush collection, composting and wood recycling.
Open City waste servicesCity Landfill
Used to verify that City residents should not take construction and demolition wood waste to the municipal landfill as ordinary resident disposal.
Open City landfill rulesCity Recycle Centers
Useful for separating normal household recycling from yard waste. Chattanooga’s five standard recycle centers are not the Wood Recycling Center.
Open Chattanooga recycle centersFrequently Asked Questions About Chattanooga Wood Recycling
Where is the City of Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center?
The facility is at 4063 N. Hawthorne Street, Chattanooga, TN 37406.
What are the Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center hours?
The current official schedule is Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 3:50 PM. The City says the last vehicle is received at 3:50 PM. The facility is closed Sunday and on listed City holidays.
Is wood recycling free for Chattanooga residents?
Yes, for acceptable wood waste within the City’s resident guidelines. The official page specifically describes no-charge disposal for City residents using a standard-size pickup truck or single-axle trailer.
How much do non-city residents and contractors pay?
The City’s current published disposal rate is $20 per ton for non-city residents, businesses and contractors bringing acceptable material.
Does the Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center accept lumber?
Only raw natural wood fits the listed clean-wood program. Treated lumber, glued wood, plywood, paneling, painted wood and wood containing nails are listed as not accepted.
Can I take pallets to the Wood Recycling Center?
No. Chattanooga specifically lists pallets among the materials not accepted at the Wood Recycling Center.
Does Chattanooga accept tree stumps at the Wood Recycling Center?
No. Root balls and stumps are specifically listed as non-acceptable material.
Can I take brush and leaves to the center?
Yes. Brush and leaves are part of the City’s current accepted-material list, provided the load is not mixed with prohibited material.
Can Chattanooga residents get free mulch?
Yes. The City currently provides mulch at no charge to City of Chattanooga residents who present a valid driver’s license and follow the vehicle, covering and daily-load rules.
Will City workers unload my brush or wood?
No. Chattanooga states that City crews do not unload incoming wood waste from customers’ trucks or trailers. Residents collecting mulch are different: crews will load the mulch into eligible resident vehicles.
Can a contractor use Chattanooga curbside brush collection?
No. Chattanooga says contractors performing land clearing and businesses are not eligible for curbside brush collection. Contractors can use the Wood Recycling Center for acceptable material under the facility’s paid-use rules.
What should I do with plywood or treated wood?
Do not take it to the Wood Recycling Center. City resident refuse centers accept some household lumber and landscape timbers, but their rules exclude other materials such as pallets and railroad ties. Verify your exact item with Chattanooga Solid Waste before loading it.
Is Recycling-Centre.org the official Chattanooga Wood Recycling Center website?
No. Recycling-Centre.org is an independent information guide. Verify current hours, fees, holiday closures, accepted material and special service notices through the City of Chattanooga before visiting.