ENVIROCYCLE PARTNERS WITH PAZ
Envirocycle Inc., an electronics recycler based in Hallstead, Pa., has opened a new plant in the Davisville, W.Va., Polymer Technology Park (PTP), operated by the Polymer Alliance Zone (PAZ).
Envirocycle officials say they are excited about the partnership.
"One of the main materials we reclaim through recycling electronics is plastic, and we are excited to be working with PAZ to develop our methods and explore processing options," Envirocycle Chief Operating Officer Greg Voorhees says. "It just seems like a natural step to ensure the most efficient use is made from the components we recover."
In addition to plastics recycling, Envirocycle’s West Virginia plant will also specialize in asset recovery and will offer secure data management and data destruction.
"When you make an effort to dispose of your unwanted electronics in a responsible way," Voorhees says, "you shouldn’t have to worry about the potential misuse of the information stored on your hard drives."
PAZ President R. V. Buddy Graham says, "We have been watching Envirocycle grow over the past few years to become one of the leaders, if not the leader, in the recycling of end-of-life electronics. They are a perfect fit for our project and we are delighted to welcome them into our PAZ family."
Envirocycle will partner with PAZ and SDR-Technologies, a West Virginia plastics processing company owned by S. Doug Ritchie. The companies are developing an economical process to recycle mixed streams of plastics in their Wood County plant.
"This project is a great example of how the public and private sector can work together to provide good paying jobs and protect the environment," Graham says.
The Polymer Technology Park was funded through a $4.3 million grant from the state of West Virginia. West Virginia Congressman Alan B. Mollohan has also offered his support to the project.
"We are indeed fortunate to have Congressman Mollohan’s continued support for the project," Judy Sheppard, chairman of the PAZ board of directors, says.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory through the West Virginia University Research Corp. administers the grants. West Virginia University, DN American and SDR-Technologies are partners in the PTP endeavor.
"We are pleased to welcome new private-sector partners to the Polymer Technology Park and look forward to the benefits of their participation," Mollohan says. "The collaborative efforts that are underway will lead to new advances in electronics recycling technologies and help grow a promising sector of our economy."
The Polymer Technology Park now houses Envirocycle, SDR-Technologies, PWP Industries and the National Center for Electronics Recycling.
Envirocycle Inc. also recently opened an electronics recycling consolidation center in Hayward, Calif. The facility, a collection and consolidation point for the Northwestern U.S., prepares recyclable materials for shipment to the California plant for processing.
NORANDA EXPANDS E-RECYCLING BUSINESS INTO ASIA
Noranda Inc., headquartered in Toronto, has announced plans to expand its electronics recycling activities with the opening of a new subsidiary called Noranda Recycling Inc. (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
According to a press release from Noranda, the Penang facility will provide enhanced local service to existing Noranda customers and strengthen the company’s global service offerings to original equipment manufacturers in the electronics industry.
The Malaysia office will source copper and precious metal-bearing scrap from electronics manufacturers in Asia. These materials will be shipped to Noranda’s recycling facilities in San Jose, Calif., and East Providence, R.I. for sampling, and then will be sent to Noranda’s Horne, Quebec, smelter.
"We have invested in the technical and environmental infrastructure required to recover metals in an environmentally responsible manner," Claude Ferron, president of Noranda’s Canadian Copper and Recycling business unit, says.
LENOVO JOINS ELECTRONICS PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP CANADA
Lenovo Canada was welcomed as a member of Electronics Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) at the organization’s board of directors meeting June 16, 2005, in Toronto.
Lenovo is the world’s third-largest personal computing company. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of IBM’s Personal Computing Division, the company employs 19,000 people worldwide and develops, manufactures and markets technology products including ThinkPad notebooks, ThinkCentre PCs and ThinkVision monitors.
Eighteen consumer electronics and information technology companies currently comprise EPSC’s membership.
EPSC’s president and CEO David Betts said, "We are encouraged that Lenovo has now joined our organization as we continue to work through these next critical stages to develop sustainable solutions for electronic waste in Canada."
The Electro-Federation Canada, the Information Technology Association of Canada and leading consumer electronics and information technology manufacturers formed the EPSC in 2003. Governed by a board of directors, its current members include: Apple Canada Inc., Brother International Corporation (Canada) Ltd., Canon Canada Inc., Dell Canada, Epson Canada Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co., Hitachi Canada Ltd., IBM Canada Ltd., Lenovo (Canada) Inc., Lexmark Canada Inc., LG Electronics Canada, Microsoft Canada Co., Panasonic Canada Inc. and Samsung Electronics Canada Inc., among others.
METECH INTERNATIONAL, INTEGRATED RECYCLING INDUSTRIES FORM PARTNERSHIP
Metech International, Mapleville, R.I., and Integrated Recycling Industries Philippines, Inc. (IRI), Laguna, Philippines, have signed a strategic partnership agreement to provide Metech’s Accountable Resource Management (ARM) services to multinational electronics manufacturers.
Under the agreement, IRI will franchise the Metech name, Accountable Resource Management and other applicable service marks and will implement ARM processes throughout its operations.
"This partnership will enhance and leverage both Metech’s and IRI’s strong customer base and complementary service offerings," Metech Business Development Manager Jim Gardner, says. "We share the same philosophies of ethical business practices, respect for the environment and responsible handling of our customers’ materials. IRI is a natural partner to extend our system to Asia and provide accountable electronics recycling to a global customer base."
Metech International specializes the recycling and reuse of industrial manufacturing scrap, obsolete inventory, end-of-life electronics and what it refers to as non-conforming materials. Metech serves customers in the automotive, electrical and electronic, jewelry and metal processing industries and offers computer and cell phone recycling programs for consumer electronics. Its Mapleville facility and another in Gilroy, Calif., are ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certified, according to the company.
IRI Philippines Inc. has been servicing the waste disposal requirements of the country’s semiconductor and electronics industries since 2001. In 2004, IRI brought online a state-of-the-art metal recovery system compliant with Philippine environmental laws and standards, that is capable of recycling and treating 400 tons of scrap materials monthly. IRI is also ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certified.
Explore the August 2005 Issue
Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.
Latest from Recycling Today
- Summa Equity acquires majority stake of Bollegraaf
- PTR adds new inside sales account manager
- Cascade Engineering distributes free carts in Flint, Michigan
- CMRA selects venue for nonferrous recycling event
- Biffa adds C&D recycling firm to its portfolio
- Cliffs lines up funding for Canadian acquisition
- BIR joins plastics life cycle effort
- Black mass analysis in the sights of equipment maker
