Newsworthy

>> ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

CEA Introduces eCycling Initiative
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), headquartered in Arlington, Va., has launched an initiative designed to increase the amount of electronics collected for recycling. The CEA says the goal of the eCycling Leadership Initiative is to recycle 1 billion pounds of electronics per year by 2016, tripling the volume of electronics collected for recycling in 2010.

Through the initiative, the CEA says it plans to improve consumer awareness of the more than 5,000 collection sites currently sponsored by the electronics industry; increase the amount of electronics recycled responsibly; increase the number of collection opportunities available to consumers; and provide transparent metrics on electronics recycling efforts.

“The launch of the eCycling Leadership Initiative is a watershed moment in the history of electronics recycling in the United States,” says Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CEA. “Our members have been on the forefront of eCycling advancements, and today a forward-thinking industry is challenging itself to go even further.”

The CEA says the eCycling Leadership Initiative is a collaboration among consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers, collectors, recyclers, non-governmental organizations and governments at all levels, coordinated by the CEA.

“The billion-pound challenge is about both the quality and quantity of electronics recycling,” says Walter Alcorn, CEA vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability. “But we won’t stop at a billion pounds. The eCycling Leadership initiative is an ongoing, permanent initiative that will follow the best practices and commitment of industry, including practices that prohibit the use of recyclers and downstream processors who dump end-of-life electronics in developing nations.”

CEA adds that it supports the movement toward third-party recycler certification and encourages more recycling in such facilities.

“This unique industry-led approach transcends the patchwork of current state recycling regulations with an aggressive set of industry goals and standards,” Alcorn adds. “Through the eCycling Leadership Initiative, the consumer electronics industry is moving toward a national solution and away from the costly and confusing patchwork of state regulations.”

The CEA says a major component of the initiative will be consumer education to help make recycling used electronics as easy as buying new ones. The eCycling Leadership Initiative will work with state and local governments and charities to add collection sites, according to the association.

To enhance the eCycling Leadership Initiative’s transparency and accountability, CEA says it will issue an annual national progress report to measure the growth of electronics recycling, using 2010 as a baseline. Additionally, as part of the eCycling Leadership Initiative, CEA will report on the capacity and performance of recycler third-party certification systems. Such a report will review progress during the startup phase for third-party certification systems and provide the basis for future consumer electronics industry commitments regarding third-party certified recyclers, the CEA says.

More information on the eCycling Leadership Initiative and details on consumer electronics industry recycling programs is available at http://apps.ce.org/ecycler/index.html.
 

>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

Metro Metals Northwest, All Recycling Combine Businesses Metro Metals Northwest, a Portland, Ore., scrap metal recycling firm, has announced that it is combining its business with All Recycling Inc., a Denver-based scrap metal recycler.

Regarding the acquisition, Victor Winkler, president of Metro Metals Northwest, says, “The business combination will provide additional domestic and export recycling opportunities and will result in the establishment of the largest privately owned recycling operation in the western part of the United States, with more than 400 employees.”

According to a news release, the owners of each operation have been working on the transaction for more than a year and have conducted a series of studies as to how to expand the combined operations after its completion.

“There are tremendous opportunities to grow both top-line revenues and profitability through additional strategic transactions,” Craig Uhrig, president of All Recycling, says.

Steve Zusman, executive vice president of nonferrous recycling for Metro Metals Northwest, says the company will add more management staff to accommodate the additional tonnage that is expected to be handled with the addition of All Recycling.

The company’s board of directors will consist of Victor Winkler, Steve Zusman and Craig and Scot Uhrig. Ralph Miller will serve as chairman.
 

>> ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

EPA Awards Grant to Help Reduce Electronic Scrap

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a grant to the United Nations University (UNU) designed to help curb rising pollution and health problems associated with obsolete electronics. The five-year, $2.5 million grant to UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace will help authorities track shipments of North American electronic scrap and provide support to nations in Africa and Asia coping with electronic scrap imports.

“The electronics that improve our everyday lives often end up discarded in developing countries, where improper disposal can threaten the health of local people and the environment,” says Michelle DePass, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

The grant is part of a EPA-led effort to address electronic scrap that includes building capacity in developing countries to stop illegal importation as well as collecting and disseminating best practices for electronic scrap recycling, re-use and refurbishment.

As part of a program to reduce environmental and health risks, EPA will collaborate with members of the UNU-led StEP (Solving the E-waste Problem) initiative on ways to improve the production, recycling and final disposal of electronic products. Objectives under the grant with UNU include:

• Assessing the routes by which used electronics leave the country and developing better ways to measure the amount of waste;
• Coordinating international efforts, including research, tracking, data collection, analysis and information sharing;
• Creating science-based pilot and demonstration projects for electronic scrap refurbishment and disposal; and
• Developing environmentally sound electronic scrap management practices and addressing border enforcement issues related to illegal shipments.

>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

Schnitzer Acquires California Metals Recycling Firm
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Portland, Ore., has announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of American Metal Group and certain of its affiliates, which operate from facilities in San Jose and Santa Clara, Calif.

“Our acquisition of American Metal Group enhances our supply network in Northern California and continues our strategy of growth in this important region by expanding the platform of our metals recycling business,” says Tamara Lundgren, CEO of Schnitzer Steel.

“American Metal Group has been in operation for over 50 years, and we look forward to building on AMG’s growth and success and continuing to serve all of the customers in the region,” says Don Hamaker, president of Schnitzer’s metals recycling business. “This acquisition is a good strategic fit for Schnitzer, as it adds a strong nonferrous franchise and a large-scale CRV (California Redemption Value) operation in this region.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

CMC Installs Auto Shredder in South Texas
Commercial Metals Co. (CMC), based in Irving, Texas, has announced plans to install a 3,000-horsepower Harris shredder with an online/offline nonferrous separation system at a new site in Corpus Christi, Texas.
 
According to a press release issued by CMC, the shredder will be built on a 63-acre greenfield site about 5 miles from CMC’s existing scrap processing facility in Corpus Christi. Construction began in May, with completion anticipated by January 2012, according to the company.

Joe Alvarado, CMC president and chief operating officer, says, “Installation of this new shredder ensures CMC will continue to meet the recycling needs of the Corpus Christi area and further demonstrates our commitment to grow our CMC Recycling division.”

With the announced installation, CMC will operate eight auto shredders in North America. The company also announced plans to install a shredder at its 27-acre facility in Tulsa, Okla.

The Tulsa facility will be home to a 4,000-horsepower Metso Recycling-Texas Shredder plant that contains Metso’s TSH (Texas Shredder Hybrid) technology, which is designed to handle heavy scrap and bundled material. According to Metso, the TSH shredders accept disc, spider and fully capped disc rotors. Construction of the shredder began in late April with commissioning expected in late 2011.

“The decision to install a shredder at our Tulsa scrap processing yard was based on already captured feedstock from our existing recycling facilities located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas,” Alvarado says. “The installation of this shredder strengthens CMC’s presence in the Midwest and our ability to meet the recycling needs of Tulsa and surrounding communities.”

>> MUNICIPAL RECYCLING

Sonoco Recycling, South Carolina City Launch Pilot Recycling Program
Sonoco Recycling, Hartsville, S.C., and the city of Hartsville, have announced the launch of a six-year recycling pilot program in the city designed to increase commercial and residential recycling.

During a press conference announcing the kickoff of the program, Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington, said, “Clearly, our goal at the city is to improve the environment and quality of life for the citizens and businesses here in Hartsville. Working with Sonoco Recycling, we will be piloting an initiative to implement a new single-stream recycling program in our community and to increase the kind of materials that can be collected. In addition, we will jointly develop a 'voluntary' program specifically aimed at increasing recycling efforts for local businesses, educational institutions and our citizens.”

Marcy Thompson, Sonoco vice president of rigid paper and closures, North America, added, “We actually began working with the city late last year on transitioning from dual- to single-stream waste collections, and the results have been pretty astounding. In fact, since the first of this year, the number of tons being recycled has tripled. As we continue to make improvements in the services offered, this number should only go up.”

As part of the pilot, Sonoco Recycling will assist the city in converting from dual-stream curbside collection and sorting to an expanded single-stream process. The types of materials acceptable for recycling also will be expanded. In addition, Hartsville will continue switching from 16-gallon bins to 95-gallon wheeled carts, which are designed to help drive recycling participation and to divert additional materials from landfills. The city began switching to the wheeled carts in late 2010, with participation by local businesses.

Sonoco Recycling is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco.

>> NONMETALLICS

APR Introduces Model Plastics Bale Specifications
The Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), Washington, D.C., is working to ease collection and recovery difficulties associated with the growing variety of plastic packaging by establishing new model bale specifications for the collection of bulky rigid plastics and tubs and lids, non-bottle rigid plastics that have strong domestic markets.

“These new model bale specifications allow the recycling industry a common vocabulary,” says APR Rigid Recycling Director Liz Bedard. “By clearly identifying commodities that have a growing domestic market, we can begin to increase the collection and recycling of these valuable plastic materials.”

The bale specifications follow a year-long study evaluating types of non-bottle plastics bales being generated in North America.

APR plans to educate the recycling industry about the new model bale specifications through various means, including the group’s website, webinars, market lists and case studies.

APR bale specs and rigid market development tools can be found at http://plasticsrecycling.org/rigid-plastics/public-access-rigid-plastics-information.

 
>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

Aluminum Processorto Build Facility in Indiana
Huntington Aluminum, headquartered in Huntington, Ind., has announced plans to build and operate its first aluminum plant in that city. The plant, scheduled to open in July 2011, will process and melt 356 alloy aluminum scrap into ingots and sows, which will be sold on the open market. Huntington Aluminum is expected to invest more than $1.1 million on the project, which will include the purchase of a 58,000-square-foot building and processing equipment.

In a press release announcing the decision, Mitch Roob, Indiana secretary of commerce and the CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IDEC), says, “Indiana’s economy depends on people willing to invest in seeing their big ideas succeed. We’re excited that Huntington Aluminum has chosen Indiana as its home and for the positive impact it will have on this community.”

Roger Kilty, president of Huntington Aluminum, says, “I want to thank the state, city and county leaders and the local economic development groups for working so hard to help Huntington Aluminum become a reality. Now that I’ve been through the process, I can better understand why our community and Indiana have been successful in supporting the creation of new jobs. They want me to have a successful business and appreciate how hard I’m working to make this a reality.”

The IDEC has offered Huntington Aluminum up to $300,000 in performance-based tax credits in light of the company’s job creation plans. The city of Huntington and Huntington County  also are considering county economic development income tax (CEDIT) funding to support the project at the request of Huntington County United Economic Development Corp.

>> MUNICIPAL RECYCLING

New MRF Opens in Tulsa
Tulsa Recycle and Transfer (TRT), Tulsa, Okla., has opened what it is calling Tulsa’s first permitted material recovery facility (MRF). A ceremony celebrating the plant’s opening included a visit from Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, who declared April 18 Tulsa Recycle and Transfer Day.

“We’re very proud of our MRF and the hard work that went into its design and set up,” says Kenny Burkett, founder and owner of TRT, American Environmental Landfill and American Waste Control.

 “The MRF is one of the most innovative [things] created to tackle our growing waste problems. We know by recycling valuable materials and re-using them in the manufacturing process, we’re creating a cleaner environment for Tulsa for generations to come.”

Automation is a key feature of the new MRF, TRT says. Tom Hill, CEO of Burkett’s companies, says the new MRF technology could increase recycling rates for TRT by 35 to 40 percent. “We’re now looking to recover 40 to 60 tons of cardboard from the waste stream per day,” says Hill. “And that doesn’t even count all the tons of metal, aluminum and plastics we can also recover. While other companies love talking about their recycling efforts, the fact is, no one has recycled more materials in Tulsa over the last 24 years—over 375,000 tons since our inception. That’s a record we’re very proud of and look forward to continuing.”
 
In addition to the environmental pluses, Hill says he expects the MRF to help spur economic growth in Tulsa by adding 25 to 35 new jobs initially, with the possibility of more jobs if a second shift is added.

 TRT’s new MRF is located near downtown Tulsa. It accepts newspapers, cardboard, aluminum, tin-plated steel cans and plastic at its transfer location, which is open for drop-off from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

 Plans are in the works for special tours of the MRF, which will soon feature a viewing platform for families and students. In addition, TRT has a mascot, named Mr. Murph, designed to help educate families and children about the recycling process and how the MRF’s technology improves that process.
 
TRT, founded in 1987, is a privately owned company that has made a $5 million investment in the plant. More information on the company can be found at http://feedmrmurph.com.

 

 
>> NONMETALLICS

Texas Agency Invests in Plastics Recycler
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has announced that the state is investing $550,000 through its Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) in Coll Materials, Zanesville, Ohio, for the company’s expansion into Waco, Texas. Contingent upon the completion of a local incentive agreement, the investment is expected to result in the creation of 111 jobs and to generate an estimated $5.9 million in capital investment. (See “Eye Toward Expansion,” p. 42, for a profile on Coll Materials.)

“Employers from around the nation and all over the world continue to seek the job-friendly climate we’ve created in Texas with our low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulations, fair legal system and skilled workforce,” Perry says in a news release. “This TEF investment will help with Coll Materials’ expansion into Waco, create jobs for 111 Texans and generate millions of dollars into the city of Waco’s local economy,” Perry continues.

Coll Materials handles post-industrial and post-consumer plastics. The company processes plastic scrap into pellets for re-use and resale. Processed material is sold to plastic manufacturers, including thermoformers, injection molders, structural foam molders and vacuum formers, for various uses.

The TEF says its investment in Coll Materials will allow the company to expand its current operations to the Southwest, where the combined capacity of the company’s two plants will produce more than 100 million pounds per year of recycled plastics with the capability for growth.

“Coll Materials is excited about doing business in Texas, specifically in the great city of Waco,” says Brian Coll, president and CEO of Coll Materials. “The state of Texas and Texas Enterprise Fund as well as the economic development representatives and officials in the city of Waco and McLennan County have been tremendously helpful in providing competitive incentives, assisting with the details of doing business and responding promptly to our questions,” he adds.
 

>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

SMM Opens New Facility in North Carolina
Chicago-based Sims Metal Management (SMM) has opened a new scrap metal recycling facility in Princeville, N.C. The facility, called Sims Metal Management – Tar River Recycling, will serve the North Carolina communities of Princeville, Tarboro, Rocky Mount, Greenville and the surrounding coastal plains region of North Carolina and southern Virginia.

“This opportunity to site a facility in the Princeville-Tarboro area allows our metals division to tap key scrap sources and extend our service model to new and existing customers,” says Robert Kelman, SMM president of commercial and business development – North America. “The company has been aggressively exploring more acquisitions of well-run businesses but we also believe that we have the right formula for full-service recycling facilities and, as demonstrated by Tar River Recycling, we believe that we cannot rule out greenfield development as an effective means of expansion. We are excited to be able to expand our metals operations to North Carolina and our 21st U.S. state.”

The 2.5-acre feeder yard will accept ferrous and nonferrous metals as well as car bodies. The facility also will have car depollution capabilities. Material collected at the new location will be shipped to SMM’s shredding facilities in Petersburg or Chesapeake, Va.

“We’re excited to bring our model of full-service recycling to the state of North Carolina,” says Michael Henderson, SMM East region president. “We’re going to play a big part in the sustainability of the region while bringing ‘green collar’ jobs to the Princeville-Tarboro-Rocky Mount Area.

Henderson continues, “Our commitment to safety, while providing the highest level of service and accountability at clean and efficient facilities, is going to create a recycling experience many in the area are unaccustomed. This isn’t your granddad’s junk yard but a modern facility. We think people are going to be pleasantly surprised.”
 

>> SCRAP INDUSTRY NEWS

Upstate Shredding – Ben Weitsman & Son Invests $4 Million to Upgrade Facility
Upstate Shredding – Ben Weitsman & Son, Owego, N.Y., has announced plans to invest $4 million at its newly acquired scrap metal recycling facility in Jamestown, N.Y.

In a press release, Adam Weitsman, president of Upstate Shredding, says, “The Jamestown facility will be an excellent example of our good neighbor policy. Upstate Shredding prides itself on community involvement and the appearance of its facilities.”

Upstate Shredding closed on the purchase of the Jamestown business May 2. As part of the transaction, first announced in June 2010, the company says it satisfied more than $200,000 in past-due taxes connected to the 10-acre property that the previous owner owed.

The former owners of the Jamestown scrap yard, Paul Weinstein, Rick Kress and David Weinstein, will continue in management positions at the facility.

The company says its planned improvements include complete environmental remediation of the facility, paving the entire scrap yard and the installation of stormwater treatment systems. Upstate also will implement environmental safeguards at the plant and a new fence will be erected to enclose and secure the property. Existing buildings will be demolished, and new, energy-efficient buildings will be constructed in their place, according to Upstate Shredding.

The company also plans to landscape the property to mitigate noise and to improve the look of the neighborhood.

Additionally, Upstate says it is bringing in new equipment, scales and a capital infusion that will allow retail and industrial customers to be paid in cash the same day.

Upstate Shredding also has announced that work at the company’s Scranton, Pa., site, which it acquired in March, should be completed by June 2011.

The total investment at the Scranton site is expected to be nearly $6 million.
 

>> C&D NEWS

Rhode Island DEM Approves License for C&D Recycler
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has issued a three-year solid waste facility management license to TLA Providence LLC to operate TLA Pond View of East Providence, R.I. The license imposes new conditions and allows the company to continue and to expand its construction and demolition (C&D) debris processing facility. Over a phased-in schedule and once an air monitoring plan is in place, the recycling facility will be licensed to accept up to 1,500 tons per day of C&D debris.

According to the DEM, the license was issued after a thorough review and consideration of public comments on TLA Pond View’s application. The state agency held two public hearings on the company’s request late last year. The public made more than 250 comments at the hearings and during the subsequent public comment period. As part of the license review process, DEM says it reviewed and responded to each of the comments received.

As a result of the review process, DEM has attached 27 operating conditions to TLA Pond View’s license. These conditions address public concerns related to a number of environmental and safety issues. TLA Pond View is required, under the new license, to substantially reduce the amount of time specific materials can be stored at the facility from three months to no longer than 14 days and to implement an air quality monitoring plan for an expanded set of parameters. The air quality monitoring plan must be submitted to DEM within 45 days of the license issuance and must be implemented within 30 days of DEM’s approval of the plan.

Further, TLA Pond View is required to take additional measures to control dust and to maintain an $800,000 closure bond to satisfy financial assurance requirements.
 

>> ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

AERC Recycling, E-World Online Partner in New Jersey
AERC Recycling Solutions, based in Flanders, N.J., and E-World Online LLC, Vista, Calif., have formed a partnership to offer electronics recycling services to residents and small businesses in New Jersey.

According to an AERC press release, the partnership is a result of the recent New Jersey legislation banning electronics from landfills and requiring manufacturers to subsidize the recycling of electronics.

E-World Online LLC founded the Manufacturers Interstate Takeback System (MITS) to help manufactures comply with legislation in various states requiring manufactures to provide recycling options for electronics.

“AERC is very pleased to be offering free recycling options for the residents and consumers of New Jersey,” says Lindsay Landmesser, vice president of sales and marketing, AERC Recycling Solutions. “Many consumers are unsure of the proper way to dispose of electronics. They know they shouldn’t just throw items in the trash because of data security and environmental concerns but they don’t know where to go.” She adds, “By bringing electronic waste to AERC’s collection events or GreenZone drop-off facilities, people will have peace of mind in knowing that their electronics will be safely recycled.”

AERC has developed a network of organizations in New Jersey that will host collection events and collection sites for electronics. The locations include self-storage facilities, landfills, credit unions, car dealerships, thrift stores and cartridge computer stores.

Individuals and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees in New Jersey are invited to participate in the events. Organizations with more than 50 employees or with large quantities of electronic scrap can contact AERC to schedule transportation.

All accepted electronics will be processed at AERC’s electronics processing facility, Com-Cycle, in Allentown, Pa.
 

>> MUNICIPAL RECYCLING

WMI Opens Philadelphia Single-Stream MRF
Houston-based Waste Management Inc. (WMI) has announced the opening of its newest single-stream material recovery facility (MRF) in Philadelphia. Top officials from WMI were joined by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and other local and state officials to celebrate the launch.

WMI invested more than $20 million in the MRF. According to WMI, the MRF is the largest single-stream facility in the region and is able to sort and process more than 50 tons of recyclables per hour. In addition to conventional recyclables, the MRF has been designed to capture plastic film and rigid plastics, expanding the range of material that can be recycled.

Mike Taylor, a spokesman for WMI, says the facility can process 20,000 tons of recyclables per month. When fully operational, it will run three shifts per day, five days per week.

“Waste Management is focused on recovering more of the valuable materials in waste through the use of advanced technologies such as single-stream recycling,” says Patrick DeReuda, president of WMI Recycle America. “By making the process of handling recyclables simpler for local residents and businesses, this facility has the potential to significantly increase local recycling participation rates, enabling us to further reduce waste, recover more material and improve the effectiveness of municipal and commercial recycling programs,” he adds.

The MRF will accept material from Philadelphia’s single-stream residential collection program and from other communities and commercial customers in the region, WMI says.

The MRF has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
 

 >> ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

GEEP Receives e-Stewards Certification
The Basel Action Network (BAN), Seattle, has announced that Barrie, Ontario-based GEEP, an electronics recycling company, has achieved e-Stewards® certification at its Grand Prairie, Texas, plant. GEEP’s other locations in the United States and Canada will be certified in the coming months according to e-Stewards’ policy.  
 
“The e-Stewards program represents values that GEEP was already passionate about,” says John Krakowiak, general manager of the Texas location. “As a responsible recycler, we will continue to follow best practices in recycling electronic waste for our customers, employees and the community.”  
 
E-Stewards certification recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to environmental and socially responsible practices.
 

>> ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

SRS’ Arizona Plant Receives R2 Certification
Sims Recycling Solutions’ (SRS’) Tucson, Ariz., plant has been certified to the Responsible Recycling Practices for Electronics Recyclers (R2) standard.

Electronic OEMs, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc., the Information Technology Industry Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a number of U.S. state and local governments support the R2 standard.

R2 is a set of voluntary standards governing environmental, worker health and safety and security practices at electronics recycling operations.

“We are proud to have our Tucson facility certified to the Responsible Recycler, or R2, standard,” says Steve Skurnac, president of SRS North America, which is based in Chicago.

He continues, “We are happy to be able to provide the local businesses and communities with recycling services up to the world-class standards of Sims Recycling Solutions and the R2 certification.”
 

>> NONMETALLICS

Paper Recycling Conference Europe Heads to Barcelona
The Recycling Today Media Group, based in Cleveland, in conjunction with Pira International, based in Surrey, U.K., has announced that Barcelona will serve as the host city for the Paper Recycling Conference Europe 2011.

The event, which will be Nov. 9-10, is designed for European and international recovered paper merchants, government recycling officials, consuming mills, traders and brokers who wish to stay ahead of industry developments to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

The educational program will cover key issues affecting the paper recycling supply chain, as identified by the expert program advisory committee, including opportunities in new markets, certifications and concerns about decreasing fiber quality.

Additional information about the event can be found at www.PaperRecyclingEurope.com.
 

 >> NONMETALLICS

Cascades Inaugurates New Molded Pulp Machine
Cascades Inc., Kingsey Falls, Quebec, has inaugurated a new machine that will manufacture molded pulp products at the company’s Forma-Pak plant in Kingsey Falls, Quebec. The new machine is expected to cost more than $3.5 million, according to a Cascades press release.

The project began in 2010 and includes the installation of a new machine, the automation of existing equipment and a project to improve employee safety. “Rather than expand, we’ve completely redesigned [the plant] to accommodate more equipment and increase efficiency,” says Mario Plourde, Cascades chief operating officer.

According to Cascades, the changes will increase the plant’s production capacity by 40 percent as well as improve product quality.