A long-anticipated regional recycling facility has officially opened in Sullivan County. 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�
Torbett added that the facility is equipped to separate, process and bundle cardboard, glass, plastics, tin and aluminum. It does not include a landfill component and will not accept garbage or tires. Casey Construction, based in Kingsport, was awarded the construction contract in late May 2023. The original project cost was $2.25 million, largely funded through state grants. The final cost came to $3.5 million, Torbett said, with no county tax dollars involved. 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�