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URT planning second facility

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JANESVILLE — A Janesville waste recycler continues to grow and plans to add 65 employees.

With Janesville City Council approval Monday, Universal Recycling Technologies would receive a $50,000 forgivable TIF loan. The company would use the loan to lease a 40,000-square-foot facility from Hendricks Commercial Properties at 120 E. Burbank Ave. and create 30 jobs.

URT now employs more than 200 people at its plant at 2535 Beloit Ave., where it plans to hire 35 to 40 additional workers.

Founded in Janesville in 2003, URT got its start processing cathode ray tube computer monitors. The company still recycles CRTs, but as the industry has expanded and become more regulated, the company has moved into more sophisticated services and products.

It now handles universal waste, electronic waste, asset management and pre-paid pack-and-ship recycling box programs. It also manufactures its own recycling equipment.

The company plans to move its offices from Beloit Avenue to Burbank Avenue, where the company would refurbish computers for retail sale. That's expected to create some much needed processing space at the Beloit Avenue plant.

"I view URT as a very important employer that's growing and expanding, and we're happy to help," said Vic Grassman, the city's economic development director.

The company moved in 2006 to its location on Beloit Avenue, which a year later was acquired by the Beloit-based Hendricks.

At the time, the company had about 70 employees.

It now has seven other facilities in the United States, and company officials have said the eight locations allow it to offer unparalleled customer service.

URT has been repeatedly honored for its commitment to exceeding compliance standards. It was named the first "eSteward" glass processor in the United States by the Basel Action Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating toxic global environmental practices.

It also has contracted with several manufacturers to recycle electronics.

Recent legislation requires manufacturers to be responsible for recycling their products. Because electronics manufacturers generally aren't in the recycling business, they're likely to turn to companies such as URT.