An auto recycling company has $46 million plans for Chester County. Here’s where.
An auto recycling company announced plans to invest more than $46 million in Chester County, adding 50 new jobs.
Last Step Recycling will use a new facility in Chester Technology Park, in Chester. The company began in 2019. The company processes materials like copper and aluminum from the auto shredding process that typically would go to a landfill. Recycled materials are then used for appliances, automobiles and technology in other industries.
“After looking at several states, we are excited to build our new facility in South Carolina,” company CEO Chip Shirley said in a release from the governor’s office. “Both state and local officials stood out by showing us that they support our recycling initiative.”
The new site should be operational by this time next year. Hiring will begin in spring 2022.
“We are delighted to welcome Last Step Recycling to Chester County,” said County Supervisor Wylie Frederick. “This is a green project. By utilizing new technology, this company is able to create recycled material streams to what otherwise would go into landfills.”
Christopher Finn, I-77 Alliance interim president and CEO, said the great location along S.C. 9 on an industrial corridor with access to I-77 was a draw, as was railroad access to the site.
Chester Technology Park is more than 100 acres off I-77 and exit 65. It’s the county’s first Class A technology park with full infrastructure, including public utilities.
Chester County, like neighboring York and Lancaster, continues its return to more employment since COVID-19 caused widespread unemployment last year. The most recent week of data shows just four new, first-time unemployment claims in Chester County. The past five weeks, there have been 15 or fewer such claims.
This story was originally published July 12, 2021 at 9:49 AM.
