Canton NC Paper Mill To Close

The main source of pollution in the Pigeon River that has been a complaint by rafting companies in Cocke County for years is closing. According to a report, Union leaders with Smoky Mountain Local 507 met with Evergreen Packaging officials Monday night, and were informed of Evergreen’s plan to shut down the paper mill in Canton, NC. Pactiv Evergreen confirmed the shutdown in a statement released last night. That statement says in part that “The Company expects to close its Canton, North Carolina mill and its converting facility in Olmsted Falls, Ohio with operations at both facilities expected to end during the second quarter of 2023.”

Evergreen says they will also be reducing their workforce at the Waynesville, NC plant as well. Rafting companies and Cocke County officials complained for years about the pollution dumped into the Pigeon River by the mill. The paper mill in Canton has been in operation for over 100 years and is one of the biggest employers in Haywood County. While the Cocke County rafting companies are probably happy to hear the news, around 1300 people will be losing their jobs in Haywood County. Officials with Evergreen say the plant in Canton is expected to shut down operations sometime in June.