Multi-national firm plans investment in Arkansas as part of $350 million expansion

GUM SPRINGS, Ark. – The North American arm of a multi-national company is expanding its Gum Springs plant as part of its $350 million expansion strategy.

Veolia North America is updating and expanding its high-temperature hazardous waste treatment facility in Gum Springs. The multi-year expansion will result in a technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable facility, officials said, adding that much of the plant’s capacity is already contracted under long-term agreements.

As part of the plant’s upgrade, it will be able to generate 90% of its energy needs on-site using incinerator heat recovery and 11,000 solar panels in a 30-acre installation. This has a coupled benefit of reducing emissions, officials said.

Officials added that an extension of the emissions-lowering effort is the company planting 110,000 trees on 256 acres.

A Veolia spokesperson said the Gum Springs expansion is part of the companies plans to double the size of its North American business.