Local Battery Recycler Expanding

A family owned and operated business in Cartersville is expanding, but it's not yet clear if the growth will equate to new jobs.

, which uses its own patented technology to produce alloy from metal components in the batteries it recycles, leased a 48,160-square-foot property at 63 Industrial Drive in Cartersville, according to CoStar Group, a commercial real estate information company.

While it currently employs about 15 workers, Account Executive Steve Pledger said MCT officials are considering hiring additional employees following the expansion. The company provides professional battery recycling for various types of batteries at its facility on East Porter Street.

Pledger said the company will continue business at the existing facility, and has expanded shipping and receiving operations to Industrial Drive.

MCT established the East Porter Street operation in 2003 and recycled more than 2,000 tons of batteries in the first five years. In addition to recycling batteries for clients "to satisfy environmental regulations, industry waste disposal policies and the public demand for household recycling services," MCT's Remelt Alloy meets demand "for recycled materials in order to replace the use of raw materials," according to its website.

In April, a fire and resulting explosions at MCT's plant forced evacuations, injured several people, and had firefighters and HAZMAT crews scurrying to contain .

Fire officials preliminarily ruled the cause of the incident .