TDEC's Green Cubes
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservatio Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices created a place for staff to recycle and donate unwanted items called the Green Cube. A Green Cube was designed to accept difficult to recycle items such as small electronics, ink/toner cartridges, batteries, office supplies, and compact discs, and also provides a space for staff to donate lightly used items for reuse/upcycling and a place to share reading books.
The Results
1,483 lbs. recycled in Green Cube in 2018 (YTD)
Equivalent of 2.82 tons of CO2 emissions diverted.
Local organizations supported through TDEC’s Green Cube collections
Operation Stand Down of TN - Clothing, Toiletries
McKays Used Book Store - Books, CDs, Plastic Bags
Turnip Green Creative Reuse - Office Supplies, Miscellaneous Items
Wands for Wildlife - Clean Mascara Wands
Tri-Star Recycling - CD’s, Ink Cartridges, Small Electronics
TDEC’s Green Cubes across the state collect all kinds of items, including miscellaneous items in our “free section” of the Green Cube to try to find a home for items that are no longer wanted but still have a useful purpose. Items such as picture frames, notebooks, thermoses, phone cases, hangers, craft supplies, and gift boxes are all examples of items that could easily be re-homed.
Special thanks to Kelsey Davis at TDEC for contributing to this story.