The new US$208m plant, set to come online in 2023, will be adjacent to the Hanceville, Cullman Country site that burned down in July 2021, according to local media.
Tyson said it will retain all 124 employees from the older facility during the construction period.
The new 121,000 square foot (11241.27 sq. m) rendering facility, like the one it replaces, will produce poultry by-products for use in animal feed and pet food. It will service local poultry processors as well as those in neighboring states.
Tyson bought the original Hanceville rendering factory in August 2018 from American Protein Ingredients, Inc. Prior to the fire, the facility produced more than 750,000 tons of pet food and feed grade poultry protein meal, among other products.
“This investment signals our continued support to the agricultural industry and jobs in Alabama, and we look forward to a renewed relationship with the Hanceville community and its leaders,” said Jason Spann, complex manager at the Hanceville Tyson Foods facility.
The old facility provided hundreds of jobs locally, for years, said Cullman County commission chair, Jeff Clemons. “The new plant will continue that legacy,” he added.
Settlement
In August last year, Tyson agreed to a US$3m settlement with the state of Alabama over the 2019 wastewater spill in the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River.
The River Valley Ingredients plant accidently discharged thousands of gallons of partially treated wastewater into the waters of the state in May and June of 2019, to the ire of local residents.
Tyson said the spill occurred because some temporary piping that was installed by an outside contractor failed, thus sending the partially treated wastewater into the river.