While the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet will
strengthen flood protection in the New Orleans metropolitan area,
it did present a challenge for certain businesses. One of New
Orleans' oldest companies, Southern Recycling, had to relocate its
shipbreaking and metal recycling operations. Fortunately, Louisiana
Economic Development made sure that the company did not have to go
far.
"As a Louisiana company for 108 years, this is the place we want
to do business, and we wanted to stay as close to New Orleans as
possible," said Southern Recycling CEO Joel Dupré.
The company considered six in-state and out-of-state deepwater
sites before LED officials approached Dupré with an
idea.
"When LED learned we needed to find a new location for our
operations, they called me and said they wanted to help,"
Dupré said. "I wouldn't have known about the site in St.
Charles Parish or how to go about searching for one in Louisiana
without their assistance."
Southern Recycling purchased approximately 344 acres of batture
land and 117 acres of contiguous dry land in St. Charles Parish,
about 20 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.
Dupré said the new site's deepwater access and large,
wide batture were critical, as it enables the company to receive
ships being scrapped and to transport recycled materials to
customers.
