Shaw to Invest $20 Million in Evergreen Ringgold, Closing Augusta Facility

Dalton, GA, July 14, 2015— Shaw Industries is transitioning recycling fiber operations to a new Evergreen facility in Ringgold, Georgia and closing its Evergreen nylon recycling plant in Augusta, Georgia. 

The closure of Evergreen Augusta is scheduled for September 1.

"Evergreen Augusta was an important moment, as it helped bolster Shaw as an industry leader for recycling and reclamation," said John Stephens, VP of marketing at Shaw Contract Group. "However, as the market shifts, it's imperative we adjust and diversify our processes for converting recycled carpet into new resources. From an industry perspective, Evergreen Ringgold is a scalable, flexible and energy efficient solution to the market's demand for recycling options for PET in addition to nylon."

Shaw's new $20 million carpet reclamation and recycling center, Evergreen Ringgold, will process both types of nylon (6 and 6,6) plus polyester fiber. Operations at the new facility, formerly an area rug distribution center, began in May, and Shaw has now officially processed both nylon and polyester fibers.

With the close of Evergreen Augusta, Shaw will no longer depolymerize nylon 6, but will instead repelletize the material to be converted into other engineered plastic applications. The equipment for depolymerization is old and inefficient, and lower oil prices have made the process less economically viable.

"The new facility features increased capabilities as we move our focus from one fiber type to a comprehensive approach to reclamation," explained Stephens. "From a brand perspective, the EcoWorx product platform remains Shaw Contract Group's key initiative and allows us to leverage opportunities for recycling in all global markets through our Environmental Guarantee -- anchoring our commitment to environmental responsibility and our philosophy for continuous improvement." 

According to the Augusta Chronicle, DSM Chemicals and Honeywell International developed the plant as a joint venture in 1999, only to shut it down two years later.

Shaw acquired the facility as part of its Shaw Green Edge initiative in 2006 and began recycling carpet from collection centers across the country a year later. Although the Evergreen Augusta plant is owned by Shaw, it has been operated by DSM Chemicals North America.

The facility converted waste carpet into caprolactam, which is the raw material used to make nylon carpet fibers. It has recycled more than 800 million pounds of post-consumer carpet.

Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.