Domtar’s Kingsport mill has been awarded the 2024 Business Recycler of the Year by the Tennessee Recycling Coalition during its annual Tennessee Sustainability Conference. This award is presented to businesses demonstrating exceptional leadership in recycling and waste prevention.
The recognition comes following the mill’s significant transformation, which included the conversion of its uncoated freesheet paper machine into the company’s first 100% recycled containerboard mill. The facility resumed operations in January 2023 and now houses the second-largest recycled containerboard machine in North America, making it the largest recycled manufacturer in Tennessee.
Troy Wilson, the Kingsport mill manager, expressed pride in the accolade, stating: “To receive this recognition is a tremendous honor. It reflects our commitment to set the standard as a leader in sustainability. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of our employees — they are the driving force behind our efforts”.
As part of the conversion, the mill, which has been operational for over 100 years, repurposed approximately 31,500 tons of concrete and brick from the demolition of the previous mill to form the foundation of the new facility. This effort resulted in the elimination of around 1,000 trips that would have been necessary to transport the material to a waste disposal site.
Jan Martin, director of Communications and Public Affairs at Domtar, highlighted the significance of the conversion, saying: “The conversion of the Kingsport mill was one of the largest capital investments in Domtar’s more than 175-year history. Its innovative processes and cutting-edge technology are leading our long-term vision to build a competitive packaging business”.
Since the conversion, the mill’s daily water usage has decreased by two-thirds. Once fully operational, it is expected to recycle approximately 670,000 tons of cardboard boxes and paper annually, which is enough to fill nearly 1.5 Empire State Buildings. Before the materials are repurposed into new containerboard products, they undergo a screening and cleaning process, generating around 50,000 tons of waste byproducts each year. These byproducts are utilized by the mill to produce energy and electricity, rather than being sent to landfills.
