ADS breaks ground on $30M Georgia recycling facility expansion

The company says its expansion in Cordele, Georgia, will increase the facility’s footprint to 117,000 square feet and include an on-site laboratory.

Men and women in hard hats hold shovels to break ground on a recycling facility
Advanced Drainage Systems and community leaders break ground on the Cordele, Georgia, recycling facility expansion. From left: Bobby Manders, Commissioner Vesta Beal-Shephard, Kristen Rinehart, Scott Barbour, Director Michelle Shaw and Grant Buckley
Photo courtesy of Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS), Hilliard, Ohio, has broken ground on a significant expansion of its recycling facility in Cordele, Georgia.

The company, which produces plastic pipe, chambers and other products for the stormwater and on-site septic wastewater industries, says the $30 million expansion will enhance its ability to provide recycled material to its factories in the Southeast U.S. and increase the facility’s total size to 117,000 square feet.

ADS says its Cordele facility investment also will bring streamlined testing with an on-site laboratory and create as many as 50 new jobs.

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“ADS is thrilled to make this significant investment in Cordele,” President and CEO Scott Barbour says. “This state-of-the-art facility will leverage exceptional talent and cutting-edge material capabilities to enhance our recycled plastic production, enabling us to lead the industry and set new standards for innovation and sustainability. Cordele is part of a thriving economic region, in an ideal location for us to efficiently manufacture and transport recycled materials to our Southeastern pipe plant network.”

The company, which primarily works with polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), is one of the largest plastic recyclers in North America, sourcing postindustrial and postconsumer resins to manufacture its products.

“For over 20 years, the dedicated ADS Recycling employees in Cordele have made this location one of the top ADS performers in the nation, and we’re thrilled to bring innovative investments to this site and new career opportunities to the local community,” says Kristen Rinehart, ADS vice president and general manager of recycling. “As one of the largest plastic recycling companies in North America, expanding our operations in Cordele will allow us to deliver recycled material to our seven manufacturing sites throughout the southeast region, while expanding ADS’ overall use of recycled plastic in our pipe products and advanced stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions.”

ADS says the development of the facility was made possible through the support of the Cordele-Crisp County Industrial Development Council, Crisp County Commissioners and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The Crisp County Power Commission is purchasing and installing transformers to support production capabilities for this facility.