The citywide household trash pickup program is underway. Household rubbish, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. Residents should place all materials near, but not beyond the curb. There is a limit of one truckload of material per residence. Items that have or had Freon in them will not be accepted.

Find the guidelines and collection schedule at: bit.ly/ORtrashpickup2021

Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather conditions and/or the amount of participation by residents.

All materials must be in place no later than 7:30 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Any materials put out after 7:30 a.m. may not be picked up.

Brush collection is scheduled to begin on May 10, 2021. A new schedule will be posted on OakRidgeTN.gov in advance of the start date. For more information, please contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.

The City of Oak Ridge received a $500,000 contribution from the UT-Battelle Development Corporation (UTBDC) to assist with the planned airport project at East Tennessee Technology Park.

The intent of the contribution is to provide funding to secure state and/or federal grants that require local matching dollars. 

Dr. Thomas Zacharia, president and CEO of UT-Battelle and director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Jeff Smith, president of UTBDC, presented the contribution to Oak Ridge City Council at its March 8 meeting. 

“I believe the presence of a new airport will be a key differentiator for this community because it supports existing trends so clearly: The airport will make Oak Ridge more attractive to companies and professionals interested in low-cost, high-quality communities with easy access to other cities,” Dr. Zacharia said.

“The planned airport project at East Tennessee Technology Park is an essential component in the future economic growth of the region and an important feature for potential business development,” said Smith. “Many businesses or projects that could be positively impacted by the construction of the airport have ongoing research partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.”

At the City Council meeting, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch shared his appreciation for the contribution: “I’d like to express sincere thanks to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, its collective commitment to the best interest and promotion of our City, and particularly to Dr. Zacharia and Mr. Smith, for their personal involvement and commitment to our City. This contribution toward the airport can certainly be a true incentive and motivator and help us move toward the finish line.”

If the airport project doesn’t move forward, the funds will be returned to UTBDC.

“The City hopes this will create more national infrastructure opportunities for the City to get this project completed and the overall matching funds will be used to make this project happen,” said Oak Ridge City Manager Dr. Mark Watson. “We appreciate all of the help and support Smith and Dr. Zacharia have given the City and this planned airport project, and we look forward to seeing it through.”



The airport project discussion is now ongoing and centered in the Oak Ridge City Manager’s Office. 

The Community Development Department is excited to announce that it will be launching its CityView Portal for building, planning, and code enforcement this May. Residents and builders can submit building and land disturbance permits, trades permits including mechanical, plumbing, and electric, code complaints, and Planning and Zoning requests like plats and site plans through the online portal.

For questions, customers can contact the Community Development office at codes@oakridgetn.gov or by calling (865) 425-3532 for Codes or (865) 425-3531 for Planning any time during normal business hours.  

You can help others in your community by signing up for the Round-Up Program. This program rounds your utility bill up to the nearest dollar with the extra change funding Project SAFE (Special Assistance Fund for Energy). 100% of the donations to Project SAFE go to help our neighbors in need. To ensure fair distribution, Aid to Distressed Families for Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) reviews each request.

Instructions to sign up are located on the back of your utility statement or give one of my friends at the Utility Business Office a call at (865) 425-3400.

If you are in need of emergency assistance and live in Anderson or Roane County, please contact ADFAC at (865) 483-6028.

Remember: A little change can make a big change for someone in need.

With Earth Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to brush up on how to make your home more energy-efficient. Don’t miss TVA EnergyRight's special workshops for kids and adults on April 22nd by registering at EnergyRight.com/residential/workshops