Two dozen new “green” jobs are on the way to Port Morris, between now and the end of 2012, most of which will be reserved for low-income residents to fill.
Parallel Products, Inc., a facility on E. 138th St. that recycles aluminum, plastic and glass containers, will expand its operations, thanks to nearly $400,000 in grant money for hiring and operations that local non-profit SoBRO will administer. The new workers and state-of-the-art technology will allow the facility to nearly triple its recycling operation over the next three years, while reducing local truck traffic.
The plant converts the recycled containers into new beverage containers, fiberglass, fiber, carpet, clothing, food packaging and other products. Plant officials say they convert up to 1.2 containers every year for new uses, but until now have had to ship millions of containers to a processing plant in Massachusetts, creating truck traffic. The new additions will allow much of the processing to be done in the Bronx plant.
“This innovative program will address the problems on both sides of the labor equation, while expanding the Bronx’s foothold in one of the 21st century’s most important industries,” said Lourdes Zapata of SoBRO’s Community and Economic Renewal Dept.
SoBRO will provide training and job preparation for the 24 new workers, 18 of whom must have low enough incomes to qualify, according to the conditions of the state grant.
“We can accelerate our ongoing expansion of plastic processed from recycled beverage containers and create training programs for new green collar jobs,” said Jim Russell, an operations official for Parallel.
Congressman José E. Serrano commended the grant, calling it “a great investment in a sustainable green industry in our community,” and added that “the Bronx benefits from a forward-looking business enhancement strategy, predicting it will help “Bronx families benefit from good quality green jobs.”
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