Recycling plant closer to reality

The proposed tire recycling plant is one step closer to reality after receiving a vote of approval from the County Commission at its regular meeting Monday night.

The county?s governing body voted unanimously to give a green light to the project, thus clearing the way for the newly formed company, to be called Gulf Coast Environmental, to apply to the state for the various permits needed to operate this type of business.

County Executive Kenneth Rogers said the next step is to forward the commission?s approval to Barry Atnip with the Division of Solid Waste Management at the state.

?This will give the company the go-ahead to start applying for certificates of operation and the various permits,? Rogers said, noting the facility could be up and running as early as June.

Rogers said most of the concerns about the plant were addressed at a public meeting earlier this month attended by OZT representative Edward Bales, who will be overseeing the plant. The new company will be jointly owned by Bales, OZT and two other investors, Rogers said.

In addition to tire recycling, Bales will also be running a plastics recycling operation in the same facility as an expansion to his existing operation in Knoxville.

According to Rogers, the company is looking at the former Aquatech building, currently owned by Floyd Bouldin of WastAway, to house the plant, which will employ around 200 workers.

?This is due to the fact that building is almost perfect for the recycling of tires and plastics,? Rogers said.

Around 40 local residents attended the public meeting, including some from the Red Road neighborhood which borders the proposed location. Rogers said there had been some concern there would be burning of tires, but once that was addressed, the residents expressed no opposition.

?We talked to some of the neighbors and based on what they were told, and as long as they?re not burning the tires, they have no problem with it,? Rogers said.

Rogers also said the company will be bonded so that any stockpiled tires would be disposed of at no cost to the county should the company shut down at some point, which has also been a concern with some residents.

?They have to put up a pretty big bond with the state to make sure that they don?t walk off and leave tires,? Rogers said. ?If that should happen, and we hope it doesn?t, then the state has the money to come in and clean it up. So that takes care of the county.?

Concerns about supplying tires to the facility have also been addressed, Rogers said, with the possibility of a significant supply coming from an unexpected source.

?Ed has talked to an individual who already has a contract with 47 counties,? Rogers said, ?and he?s interested in bringing some of his tires here.?

Rogers also says parent company OZT Holding may be considering another building in the county.

?They?re looking at the Carrier building,? Rogers said, ?for when they bring in the assembly plant for the windmills.?

Rogers says that project could bring around 500 jobs.