KINGWOOD — A father and son team is planning to start a tire recycling plant in Preston County.
James and Nathan Moore told members of the Preston County Solid Waste Authority they are currently looking for property to put the plant on.
Nathan Moore presented board members with a proposal Wednesday.
“I believe this is something we could work on together,” he told board members. “Our goal is to open a tire recycling plant in Preston County. I believe this is an important resource for the county to have.”
“As far as I have found, it would be the only one currently in West Virginia,” James Moore said. “There are tire shredders but not tire recyclers.”
Nathan said he and his father want to purchase a minimum of 15 acres in the Kingwood or Valley District area. He said that is the minimum amount of land Eco Green, the company they will be purchasing equipment from, recommends.
Eco Green is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Moore said the first two pieces of equipment that will be purchased will be a tire shredder and a grader. A grader is used to pull wire out of the tire and leave only the mulch.
“The plant will be housed in a building,” he said. “That would keep the noise level down and help be a good working environment for employees.”
Moore said the plant would provide seven to 10 new jobs.
Don Smith, who represents the Preston County Commission on the board, said Preston County currently has three industries, Superior Fiber and Jennmar, both located in Reedsville, and Allegheny Wood Products in Kingwood.
Peggy Pase, board secretary, said she believes board members should visit the current recycling centers.
“We need to get involved with recycling,” she said. “We should go in teams to the different recycling centers and see if they need anything. We don’t do that any more and I believe it’s something we need to do in the future.”
Smith agreed.
“I’m glad we got the grant for advertising,” he said. “We can let people know what’s available. We need to get on the agendas of the town council meetings when things get back to normal.”
Smith said the board was approved for a $9,133 Solid Waste Management Board Grant to purchase tires and equipment for litter control. He said they were also approved for a $2,195 litter control grant that included $960 for advertising.
The board voted to submit the e-recycling grant application for 2021.
This years e-cycling is scheduled be held from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Craig Civic Center in Kingwood.
The next meeting of the Preston County Solid Waste Authority Board will be 7 p.m. Sept. 2.
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