posted on January 19, 2010 09:58
Secretary Leinenkugel tours facility, speaks about Clean Energy Jobs Act
JANESVILLE, WI – Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT) employees and Janesville city leaders were able to learn more about the Clean Energy Jobs Act firsthand this morning from Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Richard (Dick) Leinenkugel. Jim Cornwell, URT President, introduced attendees to URT, a full-service recycling company, and its business model predicated on responsible recycling practices. Commerce Secretary Leinenkugel followed with an update on the Clean Energy Jobs Act currently under debate in the Wisconsin legislature.
Cornwell spoke about his company’s recent growth and the growth of recycling in general. Standing amidst thousands of boxes of computer and electronic waste waiting to be recycled, Cornwell said, “As I mention to most visitors, you don’t realize what a throwaway society we are until you have a chance to visit a facility like URT. Ten years ago, what you see behind me would have ended up in a landfill. Today, due to regulation and increased environmental responsibility, this material is being properly recycled.”
He also touched on the impact the company’s environmental policies have had on overall business. “The electronics waste industry has received some justifiable negative press, thanks to processors shipping and dumping waste offshore. We never wanted to be that kind of company, sacrificing ethics and good sense for profit,” Cornwell said. “Good practices make good business. In probably the worst economy any of us have experienced, URT was able to grow its business last year. While many companies permanently laid off workers, URT expanded its staff by 50 percent in 2009.”
During his speech, Leinenkugel reiterated that under the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act, 25 percent of Wisconsin’s energy would come from wind, solar, biomass or other renewable sources by 2025. He stressed the Act’s focus on green or clean job creation. Leinenkugel also praised URT for its own environmental work and commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
In addition to URT, state and media representatives, City of Janesville City Manager Eric J. Levitt and City of Janesville Economic Development Agency Director Vic Grassman were in attendance. The press conference followed URT’s name change announcement earlier this month. Formerly CRT Processing, LLC, the company chose Universal Recycling Technologies to honor the many new lines of recycling products and services available through the company since it was founded in 2003. The company has grown from one to eight locations and now employs more than 300.
“Our goal is to be the poster child for environmental responsibility and ethical recycling, on the leading-edge of recycling innovations,” Cornwell said. “We like to think our continued growth is a reflection of our company policies.”
URT offers a wide range of recycling services at eight locations across the nation, providing comprehensive recycling solutions for all types of universal waste and e-waste; asset management; convenient pre-paid pack-and-ship recycling box programs; and a line of URT-manufactured, proprietary recycling equipment. Recently, it became the first glass processor in the United States to receive “e-Steward” certification from BAN, the Basel Action Network, for its responsible recycling practices.
For more information visit www.e-Stewards.org and www.ban.org. For more information about Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT), visit www.UniversalRecyclers.com
or email Jim Cornwell at JCornwell@UniversalRecyclers.com.
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2535 Beloit Avenue • Janesville, WI 53546 • 877-278-0799 • www.UniversalRecyclers.com
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