Beginning Oct. 1, the city of Chattanooga will launch two pilot programs aimed at reducing landfill waste and promoting responsible recycling. The initiatives – a curbside food waste composting service and a glass recycling collection program – will run through June 30 with an initial focus on select neighborhoods in the Brainerd area.
City officials said the pilots are designed to address two of the largest contributors to landfill volume: food waste and glass. According to the city, food scraps account for nearly 25% of landfill content and are the nation’s third-largest source of methane emissions.
At the same time, about 90% of glass ends up in landfills despite being fully recyclable and reusable in a variety of local applications, including construction, stormwater management and tile production.
The city is partnering with NewTerra Composting and Overlooked Materials to manage the programs, both of which will process materials locally. Food scraps collected through the composting program will be converted into nutrient-rich soil for use by area farms, community gardens and schools. Glass collected through the recycling pilot will be transformed into sand and gravel for use in local construction and other infrastructure projects.
In addition to curbside collection for residents in the pilot zones, the city will install compost drop-off kiosks at each of its five recycling centers, making the program accessible to all residents within city limits.
Participation in both programs is voluntary and requires advance sign-up through the partner organizations: NewTerra Composting – www.newterracompost.com/chattanooga-curbside-compost-trial; and Overlooked Materials – www.overlookedmaterials.com/pilot.
Upon enrolling, participants will receive dedicated containers and detailed instructions for properly separating food and glass waste. Businesses are not eligible to participate.
The composting initiative is funded through an Organics Management grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Solid Waste Management.
The pilot programs will initially serve residents in two Brainerd-area zones, with additional composting options available to all residents through the citywide kiosk system.
Covenant welcomes record-breaking class
High atop Lookout Mountain, Covenant College is celebrating a historic milestone: the arrival of the largest freshman class in its 71-year history, a record-setting surge that reflects nearly 30% growth in new student enrollment and a 25% jump in the overall student body since 2022.
The surge builds on Covenant’s highest-ever retention rates, with 91.7% overall student retention and 88.2% freshman retention achieved last year.
Incoming students will benefit from several campus improvements, including a renovated auditorium-style classroom, refreshed facilities and a newly completed accessible walkway into the Dora Maclellan Brown Memorial Chapel.
President Brad Voyles expressed gratitude for the entire campus community’s “gospel hospitality” and emphasized that, while the numbers are exciting, Covenant’s mission remains central: “What is most exciting is that families are drawn to our mission to explore and express the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things.”
Stockdale’s to close Hixson flagship
Stockdale’s will close its store at 5450 Highway 153 in Hixson by the end of the fall. The store, which opened in 2006 as Stockdale’s first location, has served the Chattanooga area for nearly two decades. The company now operates six other locations across Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, which will remain open.
To prepare for the closure, Stockdale’s will hold a liquidation and closing sale at the Hixson store, offering customers significant discounts on current inventory. The sale will continue until the store’s final day of business Oct. 31.
Vickey Stewart, CEO of Stockdale’s, says the decision reflects changing customer needs in the area. A recent University of Tennessee-Knoxville farmland loss study showed Hamilton County ranking among the highest in the state for farmland being converted to housing and commercial developments.
“This has not been an easy decision, but on the renewal of our lease, we decided it best to utilize our resources in areas that better fit our rural lifestyle model,” Stewart adds. “We appreciate our employees who have played an important part in the store’s success and also the Hixson community for embracing Stockdale’s over the past 19 years.”
Stewart emphasized that the company would continue exploring strategic locations in the East Tennessee market while focusing on areas that align more closely with Stockdale’s rural lifestyle mission. The closure will not affect the company’s other stores in West Tennessee or Kentucky.
United adds Newark flight from CHA
United Airlines has announced new nonstop service from Chattanooga Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey beginning Monday, Jan. 6, 2026. The route will operate five days per week, excluding Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Airport officials say the addition marks a significant milestone for Chattanooga travelers, providing greater access to both domestic and international destinations. April Cameron, president and CEO of Chattanooga Airport, notes that Newark serves more European destinations than any other U.S. airport, making the new service especially valuable for travelers seeking expanded international options.
Newark, one of United’s largest global hubs, offers flights to approximately 176 destinations across 56 countries, including 40 in Europe.