$40.6 million investment expected to create 200 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – February 20, 2013 – Gov. Nikki Haley along with officials from Recleim, a start-up recycler of appliances and e-waste materials, today announced that the company will establish its first recycling plant in Aiken County. During the RecyclonomicsSC event today at the Statehouse, Recleim committed to a $40.6 million investment that is expected to generate 200 new jobs.
“We are pleased to move forward with plans to open our new facility in Aiken County. This is a big step for our company. South Carolina provides us with an excellent business environment and the skilled workforce we need for our operations. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Ben Hirokawa, CEO of Recleim.
Recleim is establishing its first recycling facility in the former Hickman Mill plant at 118 Hard Street in Graniteville. The company specializes in resource recovery from appliances, white goods and electronic waste, and in environmentally-sound disposal of hazardous components. The company is in the process of updating the 110,000-square-foot building to accommodate three production lines.
“When a company decides to locate its first plant here in South Carolina, it says a lot about the strength of our state’s business-friendly climate and skilled workforce. It shows that companies see our state as a place where they will find success. We celebrate Recleim’s decision to invest $40.6 million and create 200 new jobs in Graniteville,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
In keeping with the dual mission of RecyclonomicsSC, participants also noted the significant environmental benefit of Recleim’s facility. “Responsibly recycling just one refrigerator or freezer can prevent up to 10 tons of CO2 and CO2 equivalent from entering the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to taking two cars off the road for a year,” Hirokawa noted.
Commerce has recruited more than $790 million in capital investment and more than 1,500 new jobs in the recycling-related sector since January 2011.
“Our state’s recycling industry continues to grow and thrive thanks to announcements like this one from Recleim. While I often say we know how to make things, it’s also true that we know how to remake things. The company’s decision to locate in Aiken County will bring new jobs to Graniteville and the surrounding area, and help those communities remain sustainable,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Recleim’s Aiken facility will employ state-of-the-art, proprietary technology that safely contains the harmful substances found in discarded appliances, while reducing the typical landfill waste from these appliances by 95 percent. The new facility is expected to be one of the most efficient and environmentally-sound facilities of its kind in North America, according to company officials.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for Aiken County, but more importantly the Graniteville Community. Since 2006 we have been working to attract jobs back into this area,” said Ronnie Young, chairman of Aiken County Council. “We are very appreciative of this $40 million investment and 200 new jobs by Recleim and we are looking forward to partnering with them.”
“This is exciting news we are hearing about today,” said Gary Stooksbury, chairman of the Board of The Economic Development Partnership. “Recleim investing $40 million and creating 200 new jobs in Graniteville is very much appreciated.”
The company is currently hiring for the plant management team, and will begin hiring production line workers in the fourth quarter of this year. Anyone interested in job opportunities with Recleim should visit the company’s careers web page at www.recleim.com/career/.
To learn more about Recleim, visit www.recleim.com.