Electronics Recycling Site Eyed in West Virginia

A center for processing, remanufacturing and recycling electronics equipment, especially old computers, is being planned in Parkersburg, W.V.

The project is being sponsored by the Polymer Alliance Zone, a public/private between the plastics industry, education, and government that is funded by public and private sector sources. The group hopes to have the operation complete by next September.

R.V. Graham, executive director of the Polymer Alliance Zone, hopes to have a key tenant announced within the next 60 days.

According to Graham, the facility is ideally located with port, railroad and highway access. Initial plans call for a geographic region of between 500-1,000 miles.

According to local press reports, the PAZ unveiled preliminary plans for the facility, which includes two 150,000 square foot buildings and one 100,000 square foot building.

According to the Charleston Gazette, late last week Graham received a grant for $125,000 from the Port Authority, payable during the coming fiscal year, to be used as a matching fund to bring in a $375,000 federal grant secured by Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va. The$500,000 will be used to plan the facility.

PAZ also got an assurance from the Port Authority that it would consider granting the Erickson site port status.

The Erickson Foundation is willing to sell the property to PAZ, according to Port Authority officials, for$5 million. Further development funding for the project is available from the federal Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Administration.