Rio Tinto will become the first primary aluminum manufacturer to start recycling end-of-life aluminum, starting in 2024.
The company will create around ten jobs by equipping its Arvida plant with a recycling centre.
The $35 million investment will enable the processing of 30,000 tonnes of aluminum starting in the spring of 2024. Construction will begin next October.
“We are becoming the first primary aluminum manufacturer to embark on such production,” said Rio Tinto Aluminum Executive Director, Atlantic Operations, Sébastien Ross.
Recast aluminum will come from old door frames, window frames, and automobiles. The supply will be done in Quebec, but also possibly in Ontario.
“We are in discussions with big players right now, but these are confidential discussions,” mentioned Mr. Ross.
Eventually, Rio Tinto would like its production to include 10% recycled aluminium.
“We will learn to walk before running,” explained the leader. “There are scraps that are more contaminated than others. We will start with the least contaminated. We are going to process our 30,000 tonnes.”
The benefits are estimated at 30 million dollars for Quebec, including 19, only in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
