Owners of a shingle recycling company illegally operating in Knoxville say they've dissolved the company, leaving city officials concerned about how the mess will get cleaned up.
Greenphalt Recycling LLC. opened up after last spring's storms. They planned to collect and then recycle discarded roof shingles.
Now there are tons of shingles sitting on two Knoxville dump sites.
Both the site on Lexington Drive in West Knoxville and another on Boruff Street near downtown remain open for business and could be seen accepting new loads of shingles, despite the lack of proper permits.
City Zoning Coordinator Anita Cash said the city previously cited and fined both locations for zoning violations. She says Greenphalt paid several hundred dollars in fines.
"As far as they're concerned," said Cash, "That's just the price of doing business."
Now she says the city is considering other zoning enforcement measures, but she wouldn't name specifics.
"Our fear is that these gentlemen will walk off and leave it and then the property owner will be stuck to clean up their mess," said Cash.
Greenphalt co-owner Russell Lesshaft said the other owners dissolved the company.
However, his name remains on the Lexington Drive property lease, and he said he intends to clean up the mess.
He said he intends to meet with the city on Monday to discuss an alternative, properly zoned holding site for the shingles at Lexington Drive.
He hopes to recycle and sell them in the spring and said he already has several buyers lined up.
Previous owners Ron Schmidt and Mike Seeley said they're no longer officially involved with the operation.
Seeley's name is on the lease for the Boruff Street site, according to the city.
Schmidt said he's still involved with city negotiations because he wants to see shingle recycling become a successful venture.
Seeley called himself an "environmentalist" who no longer wanted to be associated with the operation.
"I'm just somebody who tries to protect the environment," said Seeley.
The Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation also issued the company several stop-work orders and violations.
Tisha Calabrese with T-DEC says they've invited Greenphalt to a January 25 meeting in Nashville.
She said they'll offer the owners a chance to explain their side of the story, and discuss ways they can comply with environmental regulations.
You Might Be Interested In