‘Strategic metals’ e-cycling focus for Cohen and BlueOak

United States – E-scrap recycler BlueOak Arkansas LLC has struck an exclusive supply agreement with Cohen Electronics Recycling Inc. to finalise commissioning of its US$ 35-million facility in Osceola.

The innovative plasma furnace designed by Tetronics will allow Cohen’s multi-million dollar recycling plant to process an initial 20 million pounds of e-scrap annually. BlueOak says it will complete the ambitious project in the second quarter of the year.

The company notes that a large volume of circuit boards will be sent from Cohen’s e-scrap shredding operations in Ohio to the Oscola site so it can be transformed into precious metal-bearing copper shot.

‘We believe there can be no shortcuts when it comes to data security and environmental standards,’ comments Tyler Fojtik, vice president of finance at Cohen Electronics Recycling. The e-scrap leader is a subsidiary of Cohen Inc., which operates 18 metals recycling facilities in the US.

‘We want to make sure no e-scrap ends up in countries where it is processed illegally using methods that not only damage people’s health and the environment, but also pose a US national security risk,’ adds Ahab Garas, chief executive officer of BlueOak Arkansas.

For example, Guiyu in China, the international capital of e-waste, receives about 4000 tons of e-scrap every single hour, according to a report by Environmental Science & Technology magazine. Garas stresses the company’s focus on recover a maximum amount of ‘strategic metals’ via the high standard recycling.

BlueOak has an e-cycling centre in Arkansas which boasts proprietary technology and is backed by several investors from Sillicon Valley, such as venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.