Electronic Recyclers International Opening Facility at Former Alcoa Plant

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), Fresno, Calif., has announced plans to open a new electronics recycling facility at Alcoa’s former aluminum smelting plant in Badin, N.C.

According to a report in the Winston-Salem Journal, ERI would be the inaugural tenant in Badin Business Park in Badin, N.C.

Alcoa bought a minority stake in Electronic Recyclers in March. ERI had been searching in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee for an electronics recycling facility.

According to the article, Alcoa has pledged $5 million to improve the 165,000-square-foot building, matching ERI’s investment in proprietary technology and equipment.

In an announcement made May 23, John Shegerian, ERI chairman, said the company operates six other sites that together recycle 140 million pounds of electronic products each year, including computers, cell phones and printers.

The company says it plans to hire between 20 and 30 employees this summer, with projections of having more than 150 employees by the end of 2012. The company will work with Stanly Community College and the N.C. Employment Commission on hiring and hold a job fair in July.

Shegerian said operations will begin in July 2011 at a temporary site. He said he expected the company to receive local incentives but not state incentives.

"The enormous influx of new technologies, rendering older devices obsolete, as well as the demand for the safe and secure disposal of data, has created incredible growth in the electronic-waste industry," Shegerian said. "We're a good, profitable standalone business, and we look forward to establishing a significant, long-term operation in Badin."