Domtar and Eastman look to include local businesses in recycling effort
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Eastman Chemical Company and Domtar are looking for other businesses to buy into their recycling program.
“Let’s figure out and let’s see what we can do to learn how many Kingsport Chamber members would be in favor of the recycling process that we got to go through,” said Charlie Floyd, vice president of strategic capital for Domtar.
Domtar and Eastman have partnered with Keep Kingsport Beautiful to send out a survey to members of the Kingsport Chamber, asking whether businesses would be willing to participate in the recycling initiative.
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Eastman would collect the plastic, and Domtar would collect the cardboard.
As part of its recycling program, Domtar consumes over 600,000 tons of cardboard every year. Floyd said they created the survey not out of a need for materials, but as a way to bring other businesses into the program.
“We can’t really determine where we want to go with it until we understand where the average business in the community wants to go,” said Floyd. “But at the same time, we believe that if we can get what we believe is enough to generate at least some type of collection process, then we’ll commit to that.”
The survey was sent out to the Chamber members to gauge their interest in recycling participation. Bob Feagins, chief communications and development officer for the Kingsport Chamber, said that by partnering with Keep Kingsport Beautiful, the companies can bring attention to an issue they feel strongly about.
“It’s because they can create awareness and visibility of this very important issue of recycling,” Feagins said.
The survey asks whether the business would be interested in participating, if they are willing to display bins (one for plastic and one for cardboard), where their employees or customers could deposit the recyclables, if they are willing to bring the recyclables to a drop-off location in Kingsport, and if they would be willing to have a sign or sticker in the window identifying them as a recycling partner.
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While the survey is specifically for Kingsport Chamber businesses, Floyd said there’s a chance for the program to expand.
“We could go to Johnson City or Bristol or somewhere like that and try to get the interest-driven through their chambers and see if the same thing might apply,” said Floyd.
The survey is open for businesses to complete through the end of the month.
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