Aurubis AG, Europe’s leading copper producer, has officially begun operations at its new metal recycling facility in Richmond, Georgia. The $800 million plant is designed to process up to 180,000 metric tons of complex waste materials each year, including printed circuit boards and copper cables. It is expected to produce around 70,000 tons of high-purity blister copper (98–99%), alongside other valuable metals such as nickel, tin, and precious metals. The facility is also set to help reduce the United States’ dependence on imported copper, which currently supplies about half of the nation’s annual demand of 1.8 million tons.
The Richmond plant is projected to reach full operational capacity by the first half of 2026. Aurubis views this project as a strategic move to strengthen Western supply chains for critical metals essential to industries like energy infrastructure, data centers, artificial intelligence applications, and defense. CEO Dr. Toralf Haag highlighted that the U.S. offers favorable conditions and a strong supply of recyclable materials, making it an attractive market for Aurubis’ expansion plans. More