Wal-Mart will close Macon center

Wal-Mart has confirmed that it plans to shut its return center in Macon, idling 399 workers.

The facility will close in mid-September, said Dan Fogleman, Wal-Mart spokesman.

In accordance with plant closing law, Wal-Mart on Thursday filed its plans with the state Labor Department.

The center handles items that are returned, defective, recalled or overstocked. The goods are then sent back to suppliers, recycled or donated.

One of six such facilities in the country, the Macon center serves Wal-Mart stores throughout the Southeast. But there is more work than the center can handle, Fogleman said.

“The building can’t operate at the capacity that we need it to, to serve the Southeast.”

The work will go to “a third party” contractor in Spartanburg, S.C.

Laid-off workers will have a chance to look for jobs elsewhere in the company, Fogleman said. Georgia has 134 Wal-Mart stores, 22 Sam’s Clubs and six district centers.

The company employs 54,280 people in Georgia.