Total Fiber Recovery of Chesapeake (TFRC) has begun construction of its 80 million $ recycled pulp facility in the US city of Chesapeake, Virginia. The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority authorised the issuance of 65 million $ of Green Bonds for the facility, which were sold earlier this month to Alliance Bernstein.
TFRC is a joint venture between Oregon-based Total Fiber Recovery (TFR) and Swedish company CellMark. The project will be supplied by CellMark’s Recycled Fiber Division and all pulp produced will be marketed by CellMark’s Pulp Division. Bulk Handling Systems, a subsidiary of Total Fiber Recovery, is providing the equipment for the facility.
«Total Fiber Recovery’s innovative operation will produce in-demand recycled fiber that reduces our environmental footprint and positions Chesapeake as a major participant in this important sector, » says Governor Youngkin. «This project helps demonstrate that clean air, clean water, and a strong economy do not have to be mutually exclusive. We thank the company for investing in our Commonwealth, creating new jobs, and supporting Virginia’s conservation efforts».
TFR plans to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2023 and to process up to 300,000 tonnes of mixed paper and old corrugated containers (OCC) annually from the region’s material recovery facilities (MRFs). The company will increase the region’s capacity to process recycled fiber and produce a clean recycled pulp for consumption in paper mills around the world. The pulp product created by TFR in Chesapeake will be transported to the paper mills to become new products.
«We are excited that Total Fiber Recovery has chosen the city of Chesapeake for its first recycled pulp production facility due to the region’s workforce and global access through the Port of Virginia, » says Chesapeake’s mayor Dr. Richard W. “Rick” West. «The revenue from exporting TFR’s pulp product in addition to the creation of 68 new jobs will be a positive economic boost for the city of Chesapeake and the commonwealth. The opportunities this facility offers in new jobs, capital investment, and environmental stewardship will pay dividends for years to come. We look forward to having TFRC in Virginia».
«The paper industry demands recycled pulp to make new products, and North America is home to some of the world’s most advanced MRFs that produce high-quality recycled fiber, » says Steve Miller, CEO of Total Fiber Recovery. «From consumers recycling at their homes to legislators and regulators developing creative waste management plans to the dedicated MRF operators sorting out materials, Americans have shown that we care about recycling. All that is missing here is the capacity to achieve our goals, and that is what TFR provides. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of the solution and start here in the Chesapeake, and we thank the local leadership for helping us realise our vision. We are grateful for the support of Governor Youngkin, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Port of Virginia, Mayor West, and the Chesapeake City Council».
«We are delighted with this exciting new opportunity to market this fast-growing pulp segment. The market is welcoming new entrants, and the Chesapeake project has all the critical elements for success: experienced partners, a plentiful recycled feedstock, a sophisticated cleaning process and excellent logistics, » explains Doug Smith, President of CellMark’s Pulp Division.
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