Chairman and CEO John Shegerian of Electronic Recyclers International gives Congressman Jim Costa of the 20th District of California, a guided tour of the Fresno plant, which is home of the largest electronic waste shredder of its kind in the world, Thursday afternoon.

Fresno, CA (August 14, 2009) – Congressman Jim Costa took a tour of Electronic Recyclers International Thursday, led by Chairman and CEO John Shegerian, as well as other ERI officials.

ERI is truly a “green” business, with its electric forklifts, hybrid vehicles, all the way down to its recycled furniture.  It is also the home of the largest electronic waste shredder of its kind in the world.

“It’s very impressive, to have the largest electronic recycler here in Fresno, in our Valley,” Costa said.  “Given the changes and the transition in all of the electronics that we’re using today, with the Internet and computers, it really is a statement about our community, that we’re moving in the forefront.”

Costa also pointed out that 100 percent of the materials brought to ERI are recycled, which means less waste in landfills.

“Here, the materials get recycled, and they get used over and over and over again,” he said.

Many members of the ERI “green collar” work force were on hand to meet the congressman.  Shegerian uses that term to describe his employees, who work in an environmentally friendly industry.

“We tried to make him feel at home and give him a homecoming welcome by showing him one of the largest green collar work forces in America, maybe the largest, and also the largest electronic waste shredder in the world,” Shegerian said.

Shegerian also mentioned that ERI has been the leader in e-waste recycling for 5 years.

“All the jobs that we’ve created here, in California and Fresno, and across the nation, are green collar jobs,” Shegerian said.  “Congressman Costa’s presence today here, in celebration with us of what we’re doing, is just another form of proof of that what we’re doing is really important for the new economy and for the new green collar work force.”

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