Reverse logistics: New Antrim Township company will e-cycle for Amazon

A facility to recycle electronic equipment used by Amazon is expected to open in April 2024 in Antrim Township, bringing with it 300 to 500 jobs within the next three years.

re:Cycle Reverse Logistics is a stand-alone company within the Amazon corporate family. Along with a third-party demanufacturing vendor, it will locate at 121-123 Commerce Ave., according to Lisa Anderson, a regional manager in project planning.

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The 550,000-square-foot building is in the Matrix I-81 Logistics Center situated behind the Instant Brands distribution center, long known as Corning and World Kitchen, just south of Greencastle.

Anderson and two other company representatives made a brief introductory visit to an Antrim Township supervisors’ meeting earlier this month.

“We are excited to announce re:Cycle Reverse Logistics’ plans to build a new facility in Greencastle,” according to Anderson. “We are repurposing a vacant industrial building into a state-of-the-art center for the safe and responsible reuse and refurbishment of electronic equipment used in data centers. We look forward to building a facility that creates good-paying jobs, new tax revenue and economic growth for the community for years to come.”

“re:Cycle Reverse Logistics is an electronics processing, reuse and recycling company that works to extend the life of used electronic equipment through reuse, repair and recycling,” according to information re:Cycle Reverse Logistics provided via email. “The company specializes in the handling of valuable electronic equipment like servers used in data centers. Its services are designed to maximize the useful life of electronic equipment, develop more sustainable and efficient recycling practices, and handle electronics in an environmentally sound manner.”

Electronics recycling is one component of Amazon’s commitment to sustainability that includes being carbon neutral by 2040, according to the company. The multi-faceted approach considers both environmental and social impacts.

“We are working to scale and collaborate with others to reduce emissions, waste, and water consumption while innovating to optimize packaging and product performance. Through it all, we seek to act in ways that respect the human rights of people throughout our supply chain,” says the 2022 Amazon sustainability report “Building a Better Future Together.”

Under a heading “Keeping Technologies in Use Longer,” the report says, “To help prevent our equipment from ending up in landfills and avoid associated emissions, we are investing in responsible end-of-life management systems. AWS uses reverse logistics hubs to evaluate and reuse electronic equipment in our global data center fleet. These hubs help us consolidate, assess, and recirculate functional equipment back into our inventory.”

As the report indicates, electronics recycling, repurposing and reuse is already done within Amazon, but as a new stand-alone company, re:Cycle Reverse Logistics will run the Greencastle site and make decisions about its operations.

“We are proud to make Greencastle our home and launch a facility that creates new jobs, drives new investment and tax revenue for the city and provides other benefits for the community,” the company said.

The site was selected for several reasons, including its proximity and accessibility to re:Cycle Reverse Logistics’ customer base along the East Coast. In addition, the existing building in the Matrix I-81 Logistics Center is already zoned for industrial use. re:Cycle Reverse Logistics also cited the skilled work force in south-central Pennsylvania.

A wage analysis is still being done, but Anderson said re:Cycle Reverse Logistics wants to be the first choice of people seeking employment.

“These jobs will offer competitive salary and benefits,” the company statement said. Information about positions and hiring will be announced later.

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Shawn Hardy is a reporter with Gannett's Franklin County newspapers in south-central Pennsylvania — the Echo Pilot in Greencastle, The Record Herald in Waynesboro and the Public Opinion in Chambersburg. She has more than 35 years of journalism experience. Reach her at shardy@gannett.com