On Friday, Sept. 20, Robin Wiener, president of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), and Colin Kelly, vice president of Radius Recycling and chair of ReMA, traveled to Augusta GA to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for copper recycler Aurubis AG’s state-of-the-art recycling facility Aurubis Richmond.
Robin Wiener and Colin Kelly at Aurubis ribbon cutting ceremony.
After breaking ground in June 2022, Aurubis fast-tracked the expansion of its plant and invested a total of around $800 million. With the expansion, the facility will be able process up to 180,000 tons of complex recycled materials annually, including circuit boards, copper cables, and other metal-containing products.
“The North American market supply for recycling materials is large, attractive, and growing, simultaneously the U.S. is looking to make its supply chains more stable, local, and independent,” said Christoph Tesch, head of corporate communications at Aurubis. “It’s important to secure strategic, critical materials like Copper, Nickel or Platinum, and facilities like Aurubis Richmond are making that possible.”
Along with Wiener and Kelly, the ribbon cutting ceremony brought together Aurubis leaders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, and numerous other local officials and community leaders.
Kelly was among the guests who spoke at the event. His remarks centered around the strengthen of the recycled materials industry and its sustainable, resilient, and essential nature that makes the industry important to today’s manufacturing supply chain in the U.S. and the global transition to electric vehicles, renewable energy, and other low carbon and clean technologies.
“I was also struck by the company’s commitment to the community,” Kelly said. “When you’re opening a facility in a new location, it’s important to become immersed in that community. Aurubis has clearly taken that approach.”
The facility has advanced technology that’s in line with environmental standards set by both the State of Georgia and federal regulators to ensure that operations are conducted with the highest regard for air, water, and wildlife protection. In addition, Aurubis Richmond is committed to being a major employer in the greater Augusta area.
“Not only will we be creating over 230 high-quality jobs and contributing to the local economy, but we’re also dedicated to community engagement,” Tesch said.
Over the summer, Aurubis Richmond partnered with United Way of the CSRA for a successful Stuff the Bus campaign where Aurubis employees gathered more than 7,000 school supplies for local students in need. The facility also pledged to a community benefit agreement with Augusta Technical College and Aiken Technical College as well as the Richmond County School System. As part of this agreement, the company will invest in scholarships and job training programs for young workers.
According to Wiener, the Aurubis Richmond facility is an example of how recycled materials are a key part of the global economy.
“Using recycled materials in manufacturing continues to be an important solution as manufacturing looks to lower carbon emissions through electrification and more renewable energy sources come online,” she said. “There will be a continued need for recycled materials and an increased emphasis on using them. Aurubis is one of the great examples of what we hope we’ll continue to see in the U.S. and around the world; it signals a bright future for the industry.”
