LIBERTY restarts Recycling in La Place Louisiana (formerly Bayou Steel)

LIBERTY has re-opened recycling operations at the former Bayou Steel plant in Louisiana, USA, which was bought by the group at the beginning of this year.

This week, the plant took its first deliveries of scrap and began trading operations – the first activity at Bayou since it went into bankruptcy in 2019 under its previous ownership.

A small number of employees are on-site to oversee operations. The restart has been overseen by LIBERTY Recycling CFO Barton Champness.

Bayou’s shredder will likely be switched on within the next few weeks, and shipments could soon be made via the plant’s jetty on the Mississippi River and via road.

LIBERTY is working with experts from Danieli to assess restart options for Bayou’s steel plant, which sits alongside the recycling site.

Barton Champness said: “This is an important milestone. We’re delighted to be bringing activity back to the Bayou plant, which is well situated and has significant potential for the future.”