Lithium battery recycling facility moves ahead
Oak Ridge resident Harriett McCurdy talks to Oak Ridge City Council member Ellen Smith. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Oak Ridge City Manager Randy Heman said that Evolve Renewable Materials plans to operate a research, development and pilot program facility at 159 Mitchell Road for lithium battery recycling.
The City Council at its Jan. 8 meeting unanimously approved a change to the city’s zoning code allowing the Evolve facility to operate, but also regulating it.
The new rules would apply to all similar Industrial-1 zoning within the city.
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dodson made the motion, and Councilwoman Ellen Smith seconded.
However, under the new rules, the plant will still need approval from the Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals.
Michael Vogel, CEO of Evolve, earlier explained his overall business plans to the Anderson County Commission.
“Essentially, our goal as a company is to sustainably electrify the United States through the creation of our industry-leading, low-emissions, green lithium battery recycling technology, as I said, being developed right here in Anderson County,” he told the County Commission. “We’re working on developing industry-leading technology here in Oak Ridge.”
The company plans to receive and sort batteries that are at the end of their lives in Clinton before shipping them to the proposed processing facility in Oak Ridge.
The Oak Ridge City Council’s vote on the measure was on second and final reading.
On the first reading on Dec. 11, Smith abstained due to concerns about toxic materials involved.
“It’s not something that can be said to be generically safe,” Smith said of lithium battery recycling.
However, on second reading she approved the measure with an amendment clarifying some guidelines. She made the motion, and Dodson seconded
Under the measure as amended, in the Industrial-1 Zone that includes 159 Mitchell Road, lithium battery recycling plants must be “of a size, scale, and intensity compatible with adjacent uses.” They also must be guarded by a wall or fence and locked when not in use.
The BZA could deny the permit if the use would materially hurt adjacent properties. It can also add any conditions or safeguards to the permit that “it feels necessary in order to protect the health and welfare of citizens.”