Xstrata Copper Boosting E-Scrap Recycling Capacity

Xstrata Copper’s recycling business announces plans to double electronic scrap recycling capacity at the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. When the project is complete, the smelter will have the capacity to receive and process 100,000 metric tons per year of electronic scrap.

The company expects the expansion to allow the company to meet the growing need for e-scrap smelting capacity. At the Xstrata smelter, e-scrap is processed for copper and precious metal recovery, with the refined copper and precious metals returned for fabrication into new products.

The main aspect of the project will be the modification of the Horne's receiving and sampling processes.

The first phase of the expansion is expected to be operational by next January. The second phase will be completed by January 2010.

"We are pleased to be able to expand our activities in electronic scrap recycling to meet a growing market need with a low-cost solution that can be quickly and easily implemented. We also expect that the project will have economic benefits to the local community, including the potential for job creation," said Paul Healey, Xstrata Copper’s manager of recycling.

Xstrata Copper began recycling materials through its Horne smelter in the 1940s and now recycles more than 120,000 metric tons of metal per year.