Montreal-based aluminum recycler Alcan will build a $180 million aluminum spent pot lining recycling plant in Quebec’s Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. According to a company press release, the plant uses new technology to recycle the residual material generated in the de-lining of pots following the aluminum smelting electrolysis process. Composed of carbon and various inert elements, the only previous solution had been to pre-treat the material and dispose of it in special landfills.

"Alcan is proud to have developed a sustainable, innovative and cost-competitive solution for the treatment of spent aluminum pot lining that could become the standard for the entire industry," said Cynthia Carroll, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Primary Metal Group at a press conference announcing the plant. "Alcan will continue to pursue research in collaboration with our partners to completely recycle the by-products generated by this process."

In addition to handling its own byproducts, Alcan says the plant may accept spent pot lining from other aluminum producers. It is scheduled to commence operation in the second quarter of 2008.