Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Leads Launch of New $10 Million Electronics Recycling Facility

After more than 2 years of technical management and project coordination, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Inc., is proud to announce its leadership role in launch of a new enterprise, Kuusakoski Philadelphia, LLC.
At full production, the new 10 million dollar, state-of-the-art electronics recycling facility will create approximately 30 skilled, technical jobs while domestically recovering a minimum of 15,000 tons of recycled consumer electronics annually. The cutting-edge Kuusakoski processing technology is the first of its kind introduced to the United States, which is presently safely operated at locations in Finland, Sweden, and Russia.
“Pennsylvania recognizes there are innovative companies out there working hard to find novel ways to preserve our natural resources by recycling existing materials and creating other products,” said DEP Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Reisinger. “With this project, we’re investing our resources to help build demand on the part of manufacturers for materials that are traditionally challenging to domestically recover. That leads to a stronger recycling market in Pennsylvania, a stronger economy, and a cleaner environment. We are pleased to support RMC in its business development endeavors.”

To produce various metals and resources from an electronically driven society, Kuusakoski Philadelphia, LLC will be the first company in North America to utilize Kuusakoski’s cutting-edge European electronics de-manufacturing technology. “We are excited and eager to move forward in building many new business opportunties,” said Richard Burgess, President BGA Commodities; newly appointed as CEO, Managing Partner of Kuusakoski Philadelphia, LLC. Kuusakoski gains strength from its acquisition of BGA Commodities, Inc., located in Philadelphia, PA, and also from its extensive global network of over 100 Kuusakoski service locations including Finland, Baltic Countries, Great Britain, Poland, Russia, Sweden, China, and Taiwan. “Kuusakoski has proudly partnered with BGA Commodities and the Recycling Markets Center to make this project a reality. “Without involvement of RMC, it is likely our efforts to invest in Pennsylvania would not have occurred,” said Vesa Samela, Kuusakoski Country Manager USA, Board Member of Kuusakoski Philadelphia, LLC. “Further, we have received a cordial introduction from the Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania.”

The new facility is likely to locate in Philadelphia and discussions with various Southeast Pennsylvania governmental affairs individuals are ongoing. Should the project mature on schedule, it is anticipated the new facility could be fully operational late 2010. Regardless of the final location, a formal ribbon-cutting event will be held sometime in 2010. Kuusakoski Philadelphia, LLC is eager to engage the public in their process to join the local community.

The Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center provided management support though all phases of the economic development project including business planning; loan, grant, and tax credit coordination; facilitation of opportunities with the Departments of Environmental Protection and Community and Economic Development; introduction to the Governor’s Action Team; introduction to the Philadelphia Industrial Development Authority; introduction to the Center for International Regulatory Assistance; and technology and process validation. “The RMC is proud to be associated with this success. The RMC is striving to return our Commonwealth investment to Pennsylvania, while creating jobs at a time when domestic resources are critical,” said Robert J. Bylone, Executive Director & President, RMC.

Organized as a non-profit 501c(3) corporation, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Inc. is a leader in developing and expanding recycling markets. The RMC is Pennsylvania’s keystone portal of environmental, economic development, and manufacturing resources leading to end use of recycled commodities and products. Headquartered at Penn State Harrisburg with satellite offices near Pittsburgh, the RMC can be contacted at 717.948.6660 or info@parmc.org. The RMC is supported in part by grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.