The Sullivan County Solid Waste Department held its grand opening for the new 聽East TN Materials Recovery Facility(MRF) today. The facility will serve as a critical hub in East Tennessee, providing recycling infrastructure not only for Sullivan County but for surrounding communities, including distressed counties like Unicoi County. The facility will provide a place to bring recyclable materials to help make regional recycling programs possible.
The Sullivan County Solid Waste MRF’s goal is for municipal governments, businesses, and other organizations to work together to increase the collection of post-consumer packaging materials for recycling and to divert waste from landfills. 鈥淚n Sullivan County, we want to work together to form effective partnerships working toward the common goal of increasing recycling and waste diversion,鈥� said Mark Torbett, Sullivan County Solid Waste Director.
鈥淚t is a great honor and a pleasure for me to be here this morning to welcome you to this wonderful facility,鈥� Venable said. 鈥淥ur children and our grandchildren will look back on this day and thank the government of Sullivan County and particularly our 24 commissioners who made this possible with their support of Mark [Torbett] and his staff to build this facility.鈥�
Sullivan County received two grants from the TN Department of Environment and Solid Waste Materials Management Grant program. The Waste Reduction Grant and the Recycling Equipment Grant were awarded during the ceremony. The grants will provide much-needed equipment for the MRF that totals over $791,000.
鈥淎t the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, we are committed to working alongside local governments and community leaders to protect and improve our environment, and that鈥檚 exactly what Sullivan County is doing with its new Recycling Facility,鈥� said Ronne Adkins, TN Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner.
The $3.5 million, 16,000-square-foot enclosed facility is expected to boost recycling capacity across Northeast Tennessee and beyond. Construction began last July on county-owned land along Cross Community Road. The site previously housed the Bernie Webb Ball Park, which will be relocated as part of the project.
鈥淭his started out as a dream and a plan a couple years ago to increase recycling services in Sullivan County and to build a regional facility,鈥� said Sullivan County Solid Waste Director Mark Torbett. 鈥淭his could not be possible without the unwavering support of Mayor (Richard) Venable, the Sullivan County Commission and also Larry Bailey, our budget director.鈥�
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Sullivan County Mayor Venable called the day 鈥渁 red letter day for Sullivan County and all of Northeast Tennessee.鈥� 鈥淭his facility will serve as a critical hub in East Tennessee, providing infrastructure not only for Sullivan County, but for surrounding communities, including distressed communities like Unicoi,鈥� Adkins said. 鈥淚t will help make regional recycling possible and practical.鈥�
Looking ahead, Torbett said plans are also underway to establish a material recovery center adjacent to the new site, which he said would further expand regional recycling infrastructure. State Senator Bobby Harshbarger, R-Kingsport, attended the event with his two younger children. He said it was a great opportunity for them to see recycling in person.
鈥淲hen they came and they saw the large squares and aluminum and cardboard, they were amazed. They have only seen it in textbooks,鈥� Harshbarger said. 鈥淪o to actually be able to come to a facility like this and see it in person, it鈥檚 just great and it鈥檚 great to see that this is for our future generation.鈥�
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