Total Fiber Recovery invests in recycled pulp facility

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has announced that a company called Total Fiber Recovery (TFR) plans to invest $49 million to establish its first recycled pulp production facility in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia. According to a news release from Gov. Northam’s website on this investment, Virginia had competed with Maryland and South Carolina for this project as well. The facility is expected to create 68 jobs.

TFR plans to begin operations at the recycled pulp facility in 2021 and annually process 300,000 tons of mixed paper and other recovered fiber from material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the mid-Atlantic region, according to Gov. Northam’s office. The company will increase the region’s capacity to process various grades of recovered fiber. With domestic and international offtake agreements in place, the pulp product created by TFR in Chesapeake will be transported to paper plants to become new products.

TFR, headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, formed as a domestic limited liability company July 23, 2018. 

“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 Total Fiber Recovery President Eric Herbert, who is also president of Eugene-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS). “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 could not be more excited to be a part of the solution and to start here in Chesapeake, and we thank the local leadership for helping us realize our vision. We are grateful for the support of Governor Northam, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Port of Virginia, Mayor West and the Chesapeake City Council.”

“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 Gov. Northam. “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.”