Blackburn Resource & Recovery Facility

MRF

Newton, NC

Facility details

Address
3993 Rocky Ford Road
Newton, NC 28658
Phone
(704) 462-1348
Facility type
MRF
County
Catawba County
EPA Region
4
Data sources
EPA
Last verified
2026-10-09

EPA record

Listed in the EPA Facility Registry: 110001499664, 110071988541, 110072003098

Programs on file: AIR NC0000003701800488 · Air program 3703500488 · CEDRI CEDRI10232415 · E-GGRT 1001943 · Emissions inventory 8106411 · EPS EPS10059602 · LMOP 1059 · NC-FITS 4107 · NPDES permit NCG120001 · EPS EPS10213186 · NPDES permit NCC253041 · NPDES permit NCC252366

Interest types: AIR MAJOR, AIR PROGRAM, COMPLIANCE AND EMISSIONS REPORTING, CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANT MAJOR, GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTER, HAP MAJOR SOURCE, ICIS-NPDES NON-MAJOR, LANDFILL GAS (LFG) RECOVERY, NSR TRUE MINOR SOURCE, STORM WATER INDUSTRIAL, TITLE V AREA SOURCE, COMPLIANCE ACTIVITY

EPA record updated 2025-04-22

About this facility

A materials recovery facility, or MRF, is the plant where mixed curbside recycling is sorted. Collection trucks tip commingled material on the floor, and a line of screens, magnets, eddy-current separators, optical sorters and hand-picking stations separates it into bales of cardboard, paper, plastics by resin, aluminum and steel for sale to end markets. MRFs mainly serve haulers and municipal programs rather than walk-in customers, although some operate a public drop-off area. Contamination such as bagged recyclables, food waste and hoses slows the line and lowers bale value. Hours, fees and accepted materials vary — call ahead before bringing material, since many MRFs accept only contracted route loads.

Typically accepted at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

  • Cardboard and mixed paper
  • Plastic bottles, jugs and tubs
  • Aluminum and steel cans
  • Glass containers (program dependent)
  • Cartons (program dependent)

Hours, fees and accepted materials vary by site — call ahead before hauling a load.

Nearby facilities

Nearest landfill: Blackburn SLF, Newton — 0.2 mi

Area served

Serves Newton, Hickory, Vale, Maiden, Lincolnton, Hildebran, Conover, Icard, Claremont, Crouse, Rhodhiss, Connelly Springs.

County context

One of 10 recycling centers in Catawba County, NC.

ZIP 28658 population 25,681.

North Carolina solid-waste agency: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)