Sullivan County Gears Up to Partner with Company for Textile and Home Goods Recycling

A partnership for a sustainable future

In an innovative move towards sustainability, officials from Sullivan County are deliberating upon the possibility of synergizing with a company to recycle home goods and textiles. The Sullivan County Commission is poised to give the green light to a resolution that grants authority to the county’s solid waste department to forge a memorandum of understanding with America’s Thrift Stores (ATS) for the placement of collection bins in the county.

The proposed partnership would facilitate a system where ATS, already running 19 stores across the South, would work on processing and recycling home goods and textiles obtained from trailers or kiosks at recycling drop-off points in Sullivan County. ATS would assume the ownership of the items once they are taken out from the bins for the purpose of recycling, as highlighted by the resolution.

The ATS agreement outlines that the company will redirect a fraction of the revenue generated through this initiative to Make-A-Wish Northeast Tennessee. This contribution will contribute towards benefiting the children in Sullivan County and other communities within the service range of the organization.

Meeting State Requirements through Recycling

Director Mark Torbett from the Sullivan County Solid Waste Department remarked that the innovative initiative will enable the county to meet the recycling requirements set out by the state. According to the Solid Waste Management Act in Tennessee, each county is expected to recycle or divert at least 25% of the total waste generated within the county.

The memorandum of understanding can be terminated by any party for any reason, provided a written notice is given a minimum of 15 days prior to a scheduled textile collection.

Recycling Kiosk Locations

The recycling kiosks or trailers are projected to be staged at sites across Sullivan County such as Raytheon Road, Bristol and Brookside Lane, Kingsport among others. Currently, the nearest ATS location for Sullivan County is in Chattanooga, Tennessee. However, according to a company spokesperson, plans are in motion to inaugurate another location in Knoxville soon. ATS also operates in other states like Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana.

The focussed drive towards recycling by Sullivan County is commendably impacting both environmental sustainability and community development. The proceeds from recycling efforts will not only foster better management of waste but also contribute to charitable causes, ensuring a better future for young children. The endeavor of Sullivan County comes as a sustainable solution that sets a precedent for other counties to follow suit.