Li-Cycle to expand at Eastman Business Park  

North-American based Li-Cycle Incorporated has announced that it will be investing $175 million dollars building new operations in New York State. In development will be a lithium-ion battery recycling ‘Hub,’ which will be located on 15 acres at the Eastman Business Park (EBP). This is in addition to Li-Cycle’s ‘Spoke’ operation, already located in Monroe County at the park and due to open this Fall.

Li-Cycle is one of New York’s clean energy businesses and will help build the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries, which are in high demand.  Founded in 2016 in Ontario, Canada, Li-Cycle has created a unique process that allows the recovery of 80 to 100% of materials in lithium-ion batteries with no wastewater discharge. This meets the company’s zero waste philosophy. All materials that are recovered are either handled immediately or sent for further processing to steel and plastics recyclers to ensure all materials are being returned to the economy. These batteries are used in electronic devices, e-mobility, electric vehicles and energy storage.

To support the initiative, the company has been awarded $5 million through the Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program and will receive those funds once it begins meeting new employment commitments. Both Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the project.

The location was selected because of the existing infrastructure at EPB. Through this initiative, the company will be filling more than 100 new jobs and providing services to a growing client base across the country. Li-Cycle plans to begin construction on the Hub facility in 2021.

More than 6,000 people currently work at 114 companies at EBP. Other companies thriving at that site include DuPont, which opened the largest probiotics fermentation facility in the world last year, the BEST Test and Commercialization Center, Plug Power, the Kodak Cell Assembly Center , L3 Harris, LiDestri Food & Drink and Clearwater Organic Farms.