BADIN ó Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the first company moving in to the site of the former Alcoa aluminum smelting plant, will hold a job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Badin.
The job fair is part of the companyís search for ěgreen-collarî employees at its new site. It will be held at the Badin Fire Station, 128 N.C. Highway 740, across the street from the Badin Business Park.
ERI is the worldís largest recycler of electronic waste and the first tenant of the new Badin Business Park at the site of the former Alcoa aluminum smelting plant.
Prospective employees are welcome to come any time during the ěmeet-and-greetî style event, where ERIís human resources director and Badin regional plant manager will describe the operation, answer questions and discuss potential positions.
Actual interviews will not be taking place, but prospects are encouraged to bring resumČs.
ěWe are excited to begin the hiring process for our North Carolina location,î said John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of ERI. ěThe enormous influx of new technologies, rendering older devices obsolete, as well as the demand for the safe and secure disposal of data, has created incredible growth in the electronic waste industry for us nationwide, and we look forward to establishing a significant, long-term operation in Badin.î
ERI works with retailers, manufacturers, Fortune 500 companies, government entities, educational institutions and charitable organizations to recycle electronic waste, including laptop computers, cell phones, televisions, printers and other electronics. Some of its notable customers include Best Buy, Samsung, the Salvation Army and the U.S. government.
ERI plans to begin hiring a local workforce to assist with its startup operations. The company has already named a plant manager for the site, and will hire approximately 20-30 employees this summer. It will grow its workforce to more than 150 employees by the end of 2012 and eventually plans to hire up to 200 employees as its recycling volume grows.
Aside from the job fair, ERI is also working closely with Stanly Community College and the North Carolina Employment Commission to recruit employees.
ěElectronic waste is the worldís fastest growing waste stream, making the proper recycling of electronics one of the countryís fastest growing industries, and our regional recycling hubs will expand aggressively to meet that need,î Shegerian said. ěWe pride ourselves on giving employees the ability to grow with the company and believe there will be tremendous opportunities here in Badin.î
ERI will begin operations in a temporary facility in the business park later this month before moving into a permanent, 165,000 square-foot facility in January 2012. ERI is investing $5 million in the facility, and Alcoa is spending an additional $5 million on building improvements.
Alcoa continues to work with state and local officials to attract additional employers to the Badin Business Park, which will have 535,000 square-feet of prime industrial space and 50 acres available for development after ERI moves into its new facility.