Eye on the Environment: Recycler Turns Silicon Scraps into a Product Now in Demand

Despite a worldwide drop in commodity prices and the painful consequences for the recycling industry, some types of recycling continue to thrive. Similarly, despite ongoing struggles over the state budget, some state programs still provide great benefits to local economies.

On Thursday in Camarillo, public and private recyclers will celebrate a milestone in economic development and environmental progress. The California Integrated Waste Management Board recently loaned its 100 millionth dollar through the Recycling Market Development Zone program.

The board, which channels these low-interest (4 percent fixed-rate) loans locally through the Ventura County Recycling Market Development Zone, will commemorate the achievement by joining with ersol Silicon Inc. in hosting an event showcasing the results of one of these loans.

Using a $1.6 million loan, ersol Silicon developed from a local scrap recycling center into an internationally renowned provider of recycled silicon. This loan, given eight years ago, helped the company turn waste from the solar and computer manufacturing industries into material useful to solar panel manufacturers.

Because ersol’s process has been so widely imitated, discards resulting from computer and solar industry silicon manufacturing processes are now an international commodity rather than a waste.

One of ersol’s early customers was Shell Solar in Camarillo.

“We used to have to throw away pot scrap and other silicon waste from the operation,” said Bob Worthley, former director of procurement and logistics for Shell Solar and now director of special projects for ersol. “Then Rob Bushman (founder of the company that later became ersol) perfected a process to recycle the waste into material we could use again. Now silicon recycling has grown so much, everyone wants the scrap from solar manufacturers and the computer industry, so it isn’t even a waste anymore.”

Landfill Fees Fund Loans

The Recycling Market Development Zone program, funded by fees the board collects from California landfills, supports economic development by offering businesses incentives to convert recycled material into new products. Incentives can include loans of up to $2 million as well as assistance with selecting a site, completing permit processes, promoting products, developing business plans and obtaining materials for manufacturing.

The program has helped divert about 7 million tons of waste and create 8,800 jobs in California since its start in 1993 and is available to businesses throughout much of California.

According to the waste board, California’s recycling industry now accounts for 85,000 jobs, generates $4 billion yearly in salaries and wages, and produces $10 billion worth of goods and services annually. Recycling has become a viable, mainstream industry equivalent to the size of the motion picture industry in California.

“We have been able to forge public-private partnerships that strengthen and green California’s economy, safeguard the health of our people and conserve our natural resources,” said Margo Reid Brown, board chairwoman.

Making Local Connections

Because of the market zone program, California’s manufacturers find that creating green jobs and green products is good for business as they discover the benefits of locally recycled materials, which maintain their quality standards while decreasing manufacturing costs.

“There’s a huge demand for silicon worldwide because the solar panel industry is growing so quickly. It’s more cost-effective to recycle silicon than to get it from raw material, so our business is limited only by supplies, not customers,” said Eric Baldwin, ersol’s CEO.

At the event Thursday, Baldwin will lead tours of ersol Silicon. The event also will feature a solar car race coordinated by Montessori School of Ojai and a giant, portable solar generator provided by SolaRover. If you would like to attend the event or if you know a business in Ventura County making products from recycled or reused materials, call the Ventura County Recycling Market Development Zone at 658-4312.

David Goldstein and Charlene Graham
Ventura County Star