PARK HILLS, MO (Show Me Live) – The City of Park Hills has addressed concerns expressed by residents for the Materials Processing Facility (MRF) operated by Reworld Waste, LLC (Reworld) at the old glass factory. City Administrator Zach Franklin wants residents to be assured that safety is the number one priority.
“This facility will not process hazardous and/or biomedical wastes. The materials handled at this facility will be strictly non-hazardous,” he states. “There seems to be a misunderstanding that this facility will function as an ‘incinerator.’ We want to assure you that this is not the case. This facility will only act as a processing and transfer operation with NO ‘incineration’ processes; Reworld has stated that no operations at the facility result in any type of air pollution control requirements.”
He adds, “We understand the importance of clean water and want to assure you that Reworld will implement all necessary measures to ensure no water contamination occurs.”
In order to address potential wastewater challenges, the City has hired KimHEC LLC, a firm based out of St. Louis, which specializes in regulating non-domestic discharges. The City has contracted with KimHEC to update legal authority to ensure it can appropriately require that wastewater discharges from the Reworld facility are controlled in a way that does not negatively impact the city’s collection system or wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater discharges from Reworld are considered categorical, meaning that the US Environmental Protection Agency has specific requirements associated with wastewater-generating activities from this facility. By partnering with KimHEC, the City is going beyond the minimum federal regulatory requirements to bring a new industry into a community.
Additionally, as part of the wastewater permitting process, the City of Park Hills will require that Reworld provide information related to air, hazardous waste, and stormwater permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Coordinating with MDNR in this capacity will ensure appropriate controls are in place if necessary. Through a City-issued permit, hazardous waste will be prohibited from being received or otherwise treated or discharged from the Reworld Park Hills location.
“The City of Park Hills takes the protection and health of the community and our environment seriously,” Franklin says. “Reworld has committed to operating its facility in a responsible, safe, and environmentally conscious manner. We are doing everything possible to ensure that the addition of Reworld into our community is a positive change.”
Reworld is a sustainability waste solutions company that aims to help a wide range of federal, municipal, and commercial clients recover, recycle, and reimagine by-products through innovative waste and energy solutions. Reworld owns and operates sustainable waste management facilities throughout the country and has become the leading name in the industry.