(BADIN) -- The world’s largest recycler of electronic waste will open a regional recycling hub in Stanly County and create up to 200 jobs. The Electronic Recyclers International facility in Badin will be the company's first location in the Southeast.

“We are excited about expanding our business to North Carolina,” said John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI. “The enormous influx of new technologies, rendering older devices obsolete, as well as the demand for the safe and secure disposal of data, has created incredible growth in the electronic waste industry, and we look forward to establishing a significant, long-term operation in Badin.”

The facility is going in a shuttered Alcoa Inc. smelting plant. “I hope that ERI's selection of Badin is a sign of the good things starting to take place for the Badin community and Stanly County,” said Badin Mayor James Harrison.

ERI will begin operations in a temporary facility in the business park in July 2011 before moving into a permanent, 165,000-square-foot facility in January 2012. ERI is investing $5 million in the facility, and Alcoa is spending an additional $5 million on building improvements.