Blackburn Resource & Recovery Facility
Newton, NC
Facility details
- Address
- 3993 Rocky Ford Road
Newton, NC 28658 - Phone
- (704) 462-1348
- Google reviews
- See visitor reviews on Google
- Facility type
- MRF
- County
- Catawba County
- EPA Region
- 4
- Data sources
- EPA
- Last verified
- 2026-10-15
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
- Blackburn SLF Landfill 0.2 mi · Newton, NC
- Newton LF Landfill 8.7 mi · Newton, NC
- GDS Recycling Services Recycling 8.8 mi · Conover, NC
- Conover Transfer Station Transfer StationRecycling 8.8 mi · Conover, NC
- Hickory, City of Transfer Station Transfer Station 9.0 mi · Hickory, NC
- Recycling Equipment Inc Recycling 9.2 mi · Hickory, NC
- Sonoco Recycling Recycling 9.4 mi · Hickory, NC
- L Gordon Iron & Company-Hickory Metals 9.4 mi · Hickory, NC
- Gordon Recyclers Recycling 9.5 mi · Hickory, NC
- Catawba Valley Reclamation Recycling 9.7 mi · Hildebran, NC
Nearest landfill: Blackburn SLF, Newton — 0.2 mi
Waste haulers nearby
- Blue Ridge Sanitation4.2 mi · Newton, NC · 1 driver
- E & M Hauling LLC4.2 mi · Newton, NC · 1 driver
- Recycling Equipment4.2 mi · Newton, NC · 2 drivers
- Honeys Hauling LLC4.2 mi · Newton, NC · 6 drivers
- M & K Septic Tank Pumping & Repair6.5 mi · Hickory, NC · 3 drivers
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.
29 waste haulers in Catawba County, NC.
ZIP 28658 at a glance
- Population
- 26,336 (143 per sq mi)
- Median age
- 42
- Households
- Median income $72,042 · 32% earn six figures
- Housing
- 77% owner-occupied · median home value $215,825 · median rent $948
- Workforce
- 60% labor-force participation · 4.6% unemployment
ZIP figures are US Census estimates for the ZIP area, not the company.
North Carolina solid-waste agency: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)