Food City and Eastman Chemical Co. will partner on an effort to promote plastic recycling in the community, reports Tennessee local news source Kingsport Times News.
Once Eastman completes construction on the world’s largest plastic recycling facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, slated for this January, it will provide delivery points for plastic bottle collection at Food City markets. When in operation, customers can drop off various plastic bottles, trays, and containers.
The recycling program will begin in three Kingsport Food City locations with plans to expand to other stores outside of the city.
When the plan to build the plant was announced in January 2021, Eastman board chair and CEO Mark Costa said, “With the growing demand for products made with recycled content and the urgent need to address the global plastic waste crisis, now is the time for Eastman to take this step. With incentives, we are able to build this facility in our home state, which we believe positions Tennessee to be a leader in enabling the circular economy and an example for others to follow.”
The partnership between the two businesses serves to divert plastic from landfills and recycle waste into new materials.
Kevin Stafford, Food City VP of marketing, said the retailer is “committed to the fact that we’re going to keep this region beautiful, and more important[ly], leaving it better than we found it for those that come after us.” Full Story
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