Recycler Adding Facility in WV

Green Metals of Georgetown, Kentucky, plans to start an environmentally safe recycling operation in Putnam County's industrial park in Eleanor late this year -- bringing 14 jobs to the area.

Green Metals recycles scrap metal from large manufacturers such as auto plants.  Workers will convert scrap steel and other metals into reusable parts for cars, appliances and heavy machinery.

The company is a joint venture involving Toyota Tsusho Corp.; Tsusho America Inc.; Nakadaya Corp., a Japanese-based scrap processing company; and ARK Inc., a company specializing in handling and processing non-metallics.

Steve Cecil, vice president of Green Metals, says the company looked at several other states before choosing West Virginia.

According to Cecil, all the scrap processing would take place in an enclosed building, specially designed to collect fluids leaking from the metals being processed.

Green Metals has had a 36,000-square foot facility in Georgetown, Ky., for two years.

An article in the Charleston (W.V.) Gazette, stated that while the company hasn’t yet requested assistance from the state, beyond an agreement with the state and the Northern Southern Railroad to provide a rail spur to the industrial park site.

Jan Dickinson, spokeswoman for the state Economic Development Office said Green Metals’ project does qualify for EDA loans, and will be eligible for tax credits and incentives based on the amount of investment and number of West Virginians employed.

Cecil listed three reasons why the West Virginia industrial park was chosen:

The state has a very good relationship with Japan;

Thee availability of labor is good; and

The location is equidistance between Huntington, W.V., and Charleston, W.V.

The company hopes to have the facility completed and operational by the fourth quarter of this year.