Plastics Recycler to Open Second Plant in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TDECD) and the plastics recycling company The Highlands Group, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., have jointly announced that Highlands Group plans to open a new plastics recycling facility in Elizabethton, Tenn. The plastics recycling company will create 34 manufacturing jobs at the new location.

In a news release, Bill Hagerty, commissioner of the TDECD, says, “I appreciate The Highlands Group’s decision to open an additional facility in Tennessee and further invest in our state. Our department will continue to work towards Governor Haslam’s goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

The Highlands Group, founded in 1988, presently has a production facility in Johnson City, Tenn.

The new facility will be able to accommodate large machinery purchased for the additional high volume of used plastics that the Johnson City facility was unable to house.

“After continual success and growth at our Johnson City, Tenn. facility, we made the decision to open an additional facility,” says Jeff Wade, owner of The Highlands Group. “We decided to stay in East Tennessee, because of our long-time employees, transportation and the building that could accommodate the large equipment and ability for future expansion.”

"I was excited to work with The Highlands Group to bring a new industry and jobs to Carter County,” says Tom Anderson, president of the Carter County (Tennessee) Tomorrow Economic Development Partnership. “I look forward to their success and to working with them again in future expansion projects."