Total Fiber Recovery to Invest $80 Million in New Mixed Paper Recycling Operation in the City of Chesapeake

CHESAPEAKE, VA —Total Fiber Recovery of Chesapeake (TFRC) has started construction of its $80 million recycled pulp production facility in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia. This will be the first of several such pulp facilities by Total Fiber Recovery. The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority authorized the issuance of $65 million of Green Bonds for the facility that were sold earlier this month to Alliance Bernstein.

TFRC is a joint venture between Oregon-based Total Fiber Recovery, and Swedish company CellMark Inc. 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, an affiliate of Total Fiber Recovery, is furnishing the equipment for the facility. Crowder Industrial Construction of Charlotte, North Carolina is the EPC.

“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,” said 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 will begin operations in Q4, 2023 and annually process up to 300,000 tons of mixed paper and Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) from the region’s materials 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. 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.

“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,” said Chesapeake 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 provides 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,” said Total Fiber Recovery CEO Steve Miller. “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 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” said Doug Smith, President of CellMark’s Pulp Division.

“TFR is the latest example of Virginia’s expanding manufacturing base that is taking advantage of the global reach The Port of Virginia provides,” said Steven Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The manufacturing business sector is growing, and we are working closely with its members to ensure they have efficient access to world markets. To that end, the Port is making significant infrastructure investments to ensure cargo can move across our terminals safely, reliably, and consistently. We welcome TFRC to Virginia, and we look forward to collaborating with its team.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Chesapeake’s Economic Development Department and the Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia.