If you’ve ever driven down Pickett District Road in New Milford, you’ve seen it. That massive, industrial complex sitting on nearly 60 acres right by the Housatonic River. It’s the Kimberly-Clark mill. For some folks in town, it’s just a place where their neighbor works. For others, it’s the source of that distinct "paper mill smell" that occasionally drifts through the air.
But honestly, what’s happening inside those walls in 2026 is a lot more complicated than just making tissues.
The plant has been a fixture of the local economy since the late 1950s. It’s one of those "legacy" employers. You know the type—the kind of place where people used to get a job right out of high school and stay until they got their gold watch. Today, it employs about 350 people. That’s a lot of mortgages and grocery bills in Litchfield County tied to one company.
The Tissue Giant in Our Backyard
So, what do they actually make there? Basically, it’s all about Kleenex and Scott brands. While the facility historically churned out Huggies diapers—up until about 2004—the focus shifted heavily toward consumer tissue products.
The scale is kind of hard to wrap your head around. We aren't talking about a few boxes of tissues. We're talking about massive industrial rolls that eventually end up on the shelves of every Big Y and Stop & Shop in the Northeast.
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The New Milford site is a fully integrated mill. It doesn't just "package" stuff. It has its own 35-megawatt combined heat and power (CHP) system. Essentially, they generate their own electricity and use the leftover heat for the manufacturing process. It’s a move that was meant to keep the mill competitive with plants in parts of the country where power is way cheaper than in Connecticut.
The PFAS Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about Kimberly Clark New Milford CT right now without getting into the "forever chemicals" drama. It’s all over the local news, and for good reason.
Recent lawsuits—specifically one filed by Silver Golub & Teitell on behalf of local residents—allege that the company’s 165-acre landfill across from Kent Road has been leaking PFAS into the groundwater for decades.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were used to make paper products water-resistant and "strong" when wet. The problem? They don't break down. Ever.
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The allegations are pretty heavy.
- Well Water Contamination: Testing in 2024 reportedly showed PFOS and PFOA levels in nearby residential wells that blew past EPA safety limits.
- The Landfill Factor: The company used a landfill from 1969 to 2010 to dump "short-fiber paper sludge."
- The Lawsuit's Claim: Attorneys argue that the company knew about the risks as far back as 2000 but didn't act.
Kimberly-Clark, for their part, has been pretty firm in their denial. They’ve stated publicly that they don't use PFAS in their U.S. consumer products anymore. It’s a classic corporate-vs-community standoff that’s likely going to take years to untangle in the courts.
Why the Mill Still Matters to New Milford
Despite the legal headaches, the mill is still the backbone of the town’s industrial tax base.
If Kimberly-Clark were to pack up and leave—like so many other New England manufacturers have over the last thirty years—the hole it would leave in New Milford’s budget would be massive. We're talking about a facility that has invested millions into its infrastructure, including those five main buildings and the high-tech CHP plant.
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There's a weird tension there. You want the jobs. You want the tax revenue. But you also want to be able to drink the water coming out of your tap without worrying about liver damage or cancer risks.
Sustainability or Spin?
The company talks a big game about their "2030 Ambition." They’re aiming to reduce their plastic footprint by 50% and hit "natural forest free" targets. In New Milford, this looks like optimizing that power plant and trying to manage the legacy of a half-century of industrial waste.
They’ve also been active in the community, donating to local causes and supporting employee volunteerism. It’s that dual identity again: the generous neighbor who also happens to have a 165-acre pile of industrial sludge in the backyard.
Real Talk on the Future
If you live in the area or you’re looking to move to the Kent Road/Pickett District vicinity, here is the reality of the situation in 2026:
- Check Your Water: If you are on a private well within a few miles of the landfill or the plant, get it tested for PFAS. Don't just rely on the town's general reports.
- Monitor the Litigation: The class-action suits are moving through the Connecticut Superior Court in Torrington. These will determine if there's going to be a massive cleanup effort or if the company gets a pass.
- Employment Stability: Despite the lawsuits, the mill is not showing signs of closing. It’s too integrated into their North American supply chain for Kleenex.
- Property Values: Be aware that "environmental stigma" is a real thing in real estate. Even if your specific plot is clean, being near a site under active litigation can be a headache when it's time to sell.
The situation with Kimberly Clark New Milford CT is a perfect example of the "Old Connecticut" industrial legacy meeting the "New Connecticut" environmental standards. It’s messy, it’s expensive, and it’s definitely not over.
Keep an eye on the New Milford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission meetings. They've been under fire recently for how they've handled (or haven't handled) the landfill investigations. Local politics is where the actual decisions about your backyard are going to be made.