A former Alcoa smelting plant in Stanly County will now be home to an electronics recycling center.
Electronic Recyclers International recycles cell phones, computers, and other electronics that would be harmful to dump in landfills. Their customers include Samsung, Best Buy, and the federal government. E-R-I officials say they'll first be moving into a temporary facility in July but will be in Alcoa's plant in Baden by January of next year. They'll occupy just a portion of the facility. Alcoa and town officials hope other businesses will follow. Alcoa closed the smelting facility in 2007. The company is trying to renew a license to operate four hydroelectric dams on the Yadkin River that were used to power the plant.