Latest news with #recycling
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. ('WTMA') Announces Successful Approval for its Business Combination with Evolution Metals LLC ('EM') from the Extraordinary General Meeting of Stockholders on June 26, 2025
Chicago, IL and St. Louis, MO, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced the successful approval from its extraordinary general meeting ('Business Combination EGM') of stockholders for its Business Combination with Evolution Metals LLC ('EM'), dedicated to bringing to the US capital markets a secure, reliable global supply chain for critical minerals and materials ('CMM') that is independent of China. Through the Business Combination, WTMA and EM expect to acquire, scale and integrate five operating companies: (1) bonded magnet manufacturing; (2) sintered magnet manufacturing; (3) magnet metals and alloy production; (4) Li-ion battery recycling; and (5) smart machine design and automation. Upon closing, the combined company will be renamed Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. ('EM&T') and expects to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol EMAT. EM&T's business is to leverage advanced technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide integrated midstream and downstream CMM recycling and processing of oxides, metals, magnet alloys, battery materials, and rare earth magnets for key industries including, but not limited to, the automotive, aerospace, defense, healthcare, high tech, consumer electronics and appliances, and renewable energy industries, while driving a sustainable future. 'Today's stockholder approval marks a transformative milestone in our journey to identify a vertically integrated and geopolitically independent supply chain for critical minerals and materials.' said Daniel Mamadou, CEO of WTMA. 'Our merger with Evolution Metals represents not only a strategic alignment of values and vision, but also a decisive step toward delivering long-term value for our stakeholders. We are proud to join forces with Evolution Metals, who shares our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and industrial resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.' David Wilcox, Managing Member of Evolution Metals LLC, added: 'This is an exciting moment for Evolution Metals and our partners. Upon the completion of our merger with WTMA, we we intend to accelerate our mission to create a secure, U.S.-centered supply chain for critical materials vital to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and national defense. By vertically integrating a supply chain of critical materials production, we bring together complementary strengths and operational capabilities that position us to lead in an era where independence and supply chain security are more important than ever. Our plans are to replicate the Korean operations we expect to acquire into Missouri, creating a major industrial campus. We expect to fully process batteries and e-waste into salts, magnets and related materials – a dominant U.S. Champion in the mid-stream.' In addition, WTMA today announced that WTMA is extending the deadline for its stockholders to withdraw and reverse any previously delivered demand for redemption made in connection with the Business Combination EGM until WTMA determines not to accept reversals of redemption instructions. If a stockholder has previously submitted a request to redeem its shares in connection with the Business Combination EGM and would like to reverse such request, such stockholder may contact WTMA's transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, at [email protected]. You can find further information regarding the Business Combination and related matters in WTMA's filings with the US Securities Exchange Commission ('SEC'), including the Registration Statement on Form S-4. These filings are available on the SEC website: About Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (OTC: WTMA) is a blank check company focused on identifying high-impact technology metals businesses aligned with global sustainability and security trends. About Evolution Metals LLC Evolution Metals LLC is committed to establishing a secure, robust and reliable supply chain for critical minerals & materials (CMM) that is 100% independent of China for sourcing or supplying feedstocks. EM's strategy is to acquire and develop manufacturing, recycling and processing facilities to produce essential products (including magnets, battery feedstocks and related materials) for industrial uses such as, but not limited to, electric vehicles, electronics, environmental technologies and aerospace and defense applications. EM aims to support the creation of jobs, industry and manufacturing to promote a greener future by providing bespoke solutions to support its clients globally. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking-Statements Certain statements made in this press release are 'forward looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'can,' 'contemplate,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'forecast,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'might,' 'outlook,' 'plan,' 'possible,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'seek,' 'should,' 'strive,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of WTMA and EM, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') by WTMA and the following: WTMA's ability to complete the proposed Business Combination or, if WTMA does not consummate such proposed Business Combination, any other initial business combination; the risk that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is significantly delayed; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts EM's current plans; following the closing of the proposed Business Combination, WTMA's (which intends to change its name to Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. (such post-closing entity is referred to as 'New EM')) ability to successfully integrate the business and operations of the target companies (the 'Target Companies') into its ongoing business operations and realize the intended benefits of New EM's acquisition of the Target Companies; New EM's ability to secure sufficient funding to successfully rebuild Critical Mineral Recovery, Inc.'s recycling facility with significant expansion on management's expected timeline and budget, or at all; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; expectations regarding New EM's strategies and future financial performance, including future business plans, expansion and acquisition plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, product and service acceptance, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and New EM's ability to invest in growth initiatives; satisfaction or waiver (if applicable) of the conditions to the proposed Business Combination, including, among other things: (i) approval of the proposed Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the WTMA stockholders, the holder of the EM member units and the holders of the equity interests of the other Target Companies, (ii) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ('Nasdaq') the shares of WTMA common stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination, and (iii) the absence of any injunctions; that the amount of cash available in the trust account and from certain other investments is at least equal to the minimum available cash condition amount, after giving effect to redemptions by WTMA stockholders and certain transaction expenses; the occurrence of any other event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the implementation, market acceptance and success of New EM's business model and growth strategy; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of New EM's common stock on Nasdaq following the proposed Business Combination; limited liquidity and trading of WTMA's public securities; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of WTMA common stock being greater than expected; WTMA's ability to raise financing in the future; WTMA's success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, New EM's officers, key employees or directors following the completion of the proposed Business Combination; WTMA officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with WTMA's business or in approving the proposed Business Combination; the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to WTMA from interest income on the trust account balance; the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment, including New EM's ability to meet, and continue to meet, applicable regulatory requirements; New EM's ability to execute its business plan, including with respect to its technical development and commercialization of products, and its growth and go-to-market strategies; New EM's ability to achieve sustained, long-term profitability and commercial success; operational risks, including with respect to New EM's use of agents or resellers in certain jurisdictions, New EM's ability to scale up its manufacturing quantities of its products, New EM's outsourcing of manufacturing and such manufacturers' ability to satisfy New EM's manufacturing needs on a timely basis, the availability of components or raw materials used to manufacture New EM's products and New EM's ability to process customer order backlog; New EM's revenue deriving from a limited number of customers; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including with respect to New EM's planned operations outside of the U.S. and Korea; New EM's ability to attract and retain talented personnel; New EM's ability to compete with companies that have significantly more resources; New EM's ability to meet certain certification and compliance standards; New EM's ability to protect its intellectual property rights and ability to protect itself against potential intellectual property infringement claims; the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings, including any proceedings that may be instituted against WTMA or EM following announcement of the proposed Business Combination; the potential characterization of New EM as an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and other factors detailed under the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in the Registration Statement. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, WTMA, EM and the other Target Companies undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investor & Media Contacts Judith McGarry Evolution Metals LLC Tel: +1 (415) 971-2900 Email: [email protected] Daniel Mamadou Chief Executive Officer Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. Tel: +1 (251) 280-1980 Email: [email protected]
CTV News
17 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
What's allowed in Regina's blue recycling carts will be changing July 1
A City of Regina curbside recycling bin is seen in this file photo. The City of Regina says it will be changing what is allowed to be put in residential blue recycling carts beginning July 1. On its website, the city says that glass and Nespresso pods will no longer be accepted in blue carts. New items that can soon be put in them, however, include ice cream containers, coffee cups and removed lids, gift bags, floss containers and tape dispensers. According to the city, glass and flexible plastics such as plastic bags, wrap, bread bags, frozen food bags, and chip bags can now be taken to SARCAN. In a news release on Friday morning, the city said that a press conference will be held on Monday where details will be provided regarding the changes. Janet Aird, the city's manager, program and delivery, and Kelly Goyer, director of field services with SK Recycles, will speak to the changes on Monday morning. The changes come as SK Recycles gets set to take over processing items collected from blue carts by the city. Regina city council approved the changes in March. The city first introduced blue carts in 2013, distributing them to homes that had city garbage collection. Since then the city has expanded the list of items allowed in the bins multiple times. More information regarding the changes can be read here.
CTV News
19 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
No green bin, no garbage pickup: County revisits new strict policy for organics participation
The County of Simcoe is once again pushing to move forward with strict measures to improve resident participate in the organics program. In 2024, solid waste management staff presented council with the tougher measures, and at the time, council encouraged focusing on promotion and education rather than enforcement. In a Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting, the program was laid out once again, emphasizing how the method is proven to drive increases in organics. What It Means If approved, the County would soft launch on November 1. At that time, collection crews would continue to pick up waste carts with no organics cart at the curb, but a cart hanger would be left behind to inform residents of the changes coming. Then on December 1, the new program would be fully implemented, meaning residents must place their green bin (organics) at the curb for collection if they want their garbage to be picked up. 'The County's curbside organics program has been in place since 2008 and while it has been successful in diverting over 250,000 tonnes of organics from landfill there is still room for improvement,' County staff noted. According to recent audits, 46 per cent of what is being tossed in the trash should have been placed in the organics cart. If the new program goes forward, it's anticipated to increase organics tonnage by 10 to 20 per cent. Backyard Composts Not Enough Door-to-door investigations by County staff reportedly revealed 71 per cent of the roughly 90 households they spoke with threw all organic waste in the garbage, while 23 per cent had backyard composters. 'All residents that had a backyard composter had organics in their garbage cart, indicated that they used the garbage cart for items that did not belong in the backyard composter or were unaware of the other materials that could go in the cart,' the report stated. The remaining six per cent stated other reasons for not using the green bin, including putting scraps in a field for animals to consume. Landfill Woes When organic waste like food scraps is thrown in the trash instead of the green bin, it causes several problems, the County highlighted. It takes up space in landfill runoff and produces methane - a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment. The County says its two remaining landfills are almost full. The Nottawasaga landfill will close later this year, and the Oro landfill is expected to reach capacity by 2027. Once that happens, all garbage will need to be exported or sent to a waste energy facility, both of which the County says are costly. If the program is implemented successfully, raising the organics capture rate to 60 per cent by 2028 could save the County around $30,000 per year. Hitting 75 per cent diversion could lead to yearly savings of more than $130,000, according to the report. The County expects promoting the program to educate residents would come with an estimated $125,000 price tag. The County would also offer a reduced fee for organics carts to $25 from October 1 until December 31 for residents needing them. The program would not apply to residents of Barrie or Orillia, which have their own waste collection programs.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: How Petco saved 76,000m³ of recyclable packaging in 2024?
Petco released its annual results for the collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging. The results indicate that it has met the legislated targets for 99% of the tonnage of identified products placed on the market by its members in 2024. Petco's efforts saved 76,000m³ of South Africa's scarce landfill space in 2024. The organisation's 29 members – which include major brands such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Tiger Brands, and Tetra Pak – represent most of the PET plastic beverage bottles and liquid board packaging (LBP) placed onto the South African market. According to the newly released audited data, Petco's efforts saved 76,000m³ of South Africa's landfill space – the recyclable packaging thus diverted would fill 2,324 standard, six-metre shipping containers. Petco CEO Telly Chauke said the organisation was pleased to have met the targets set by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for the identified products registered with the organisation. 'We're particularly delighted with the success of our new EPR scheme for liquid board packaging, which saw us achieve a more than 200% increase in its collection and recycling rate last year. 'In only our second year of administering a scheme for these cartons, we've collected and recycled three times the volume compared to 2023.' Chauke said the significant leap in LBP collection and recycling rates was a validation of Petco's operating model, which is based on building sustainable value chains for the post-consumer packaging for which the organisation administers schemes. PET bottles and jars Following the implementation of mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation three years ago, Petco had also met the annual collection targets for PET bottles and jars, and their associated closures and labels, and increased these rates year on year, she said. 'Our model, which is informed by 20 years' experience as an industry body, has seen us grow the collection for recycling of post-consumer PET bottles and jars from 16% of those placed on market in 2005 to nearly 76% of what our members place on the market today. 'With over 70% of our members' PET bottles and jars now successfully recycled, our goal is to achieve similar results for LBP in the long term.' Since 2023, when Petco introduced an EPR scheme for LBP, strategic industry-driven infrastructure investments have seen LBP collection and recycling rates triple from 8% each to 24% and 26% respectively. Enhancing collection and recycling A key focus for 2024, Chauke said, was partnering with member Tetra Pak in the deployment of a team of buy-back centre liaison officers and regional recycling officers to enhance the collection and recycling of LBP nationwide. Serving as contact points to strengthen linkages between buy-back centres, waste pickers, municipal authorities and industry stakeholders, the team's role is to address regional collection challenges and foster local solutions. 'Petco's distinct value offering to members is having a team on the ground dedicated to ensuring the flow of materials to our recyclers,' she said. Aside from their daily operations, Chauke said the team conducted over 200 on-site activations last year at buy-back centres in all provinces, where they met with waste pickers and business owners to demonstrate the value of collecting LBP. Partnership-based approach As a composite material, LBP's recycled material output comprises 75% paperboard, and 25% poly-aluminium, the latter of which can be turned into end-uses such as school desks, and low-cost building materials. Chauke said Petco's partnership-based approach involved a delicate balance of working to unlock the feedstock for these recyclers by providing support for collection on the ground, growing end-use demand for the recycled materials, and encouraging the development of recycling capacity. In 2024, Petco spent R70m on financial support for the value chain, which enabled its contracted recycling partners to purchase approximately R470m in post-consumer packaging materials from small businesses. This creates monetary value in collecting materials, enabling the money to flow down the value chain to waste pickers. 'We recognise that SMMEs form an integral part of the value chain and are the gateway to unlocking greater tonnages of better quality, post-consumer recyclable packaging. 'So, we provide support, often in partnership with municipalities or corporate entities, offering equipment, mentorship and training to capacitate these businesses to grow. 'Whilst unlocking collections, the work we do in supporting SMMEs also begins to unlock economic advantages for the economically marginalised.' Recycling awareness In 2024, Petco trained over 4,700 beneficiaries at recycling awareness workshops and accredited business training sessions countrywide and provided equipment support to 47 SMMEs. The PRO also partnered with 59 municipalities from district to local level to support their waste management efforts. 'Working with the government is a key aspect of the Petco model because it helps to scale and maintain sustainable initiatives. By providing support for separation-at-source projects and infrastructure development, we assist municipalities to discharge their duty, so that our producers can meet their obligations and investment can thrive,' Chauke said. 'Ultimately, growth is Petco's driving force – growing our footprint, our technical abilities and capacity to grow South Africa's circular economy, while keeping valuable recyclable packaging out of the environment and landfills.' All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
ABC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
ABC's Pop-Up Pianos are bringing the gift of music to communities around Australia
Rescuing pre-loved pianos isn't just about sparing them from the tip for Mike Hendry. It's about giving them a whole new life. Something he's been able to do in more ways than one as part of the ABC's Pop-Up Pianos campaign. Mr Hendry is a piano tuner and partner at Pianos Recycled, a rare enterprise breaking the cycle of pianos ending up in landfill, by rehoming or repurposing them. "We get 80 inquiries a month from people wanting to get rid of pianos," Mr Hendry says. "We fix the ones we can and others we take apart, and make all kinds of things; tables, bedside tables, storage boxes [and] desks." One client even requested a casket be made from their old piano, something Mr Hendry said says was a tough request to beat. To celebrate the ABC iview series, The Piano, the ABC and Piano Plus Australia are delivering 19 pre-loved pianos, donated by organisations like Pianos Recycled, and ordinary people, to communities across the country. Nestled along a wall of handprints in the common area of the Eastern Hub Geelong Community Centre in Victoria's south-west, is an upright pre-loved piano in its new home. The Hub's Admin Officer Joanne Brown, nominated the centre in the ABC Pop-Up Pianos town call-out. The centre hosts disability day services, aged care respite and community activities including acting classes and African drumming workshops. Ms Brown says the centre used to have a community piano along with their community choir which sadly dispersed during the height of the pandemic due to restrictions on gatherings. During that time, the piano was also taken away from their centre and they have been without one up until now. "This is an opportunity for [the choir] to come back because they can have a piano here," Ms Brown says. Ms Brown says her team have been reaching back out to community, calling on choir members to return and use the space now that they have access to a piano. But it's not just for former choir members to enjoy. Ms Brown says this piano is a sign of hope for a new generation of creatives too. "The other great thing about having the piano here is having budding young pianists come in on the piano, use the space and make it theirs," she says. Further south along the Great Ocean Road in the seaside town of Warrnambool, another community gather around to receive their gifted keys. The Lighthouse Theatre is among the towns across Australia that geared up to welcome their ABC Pop-Up Piano. Venue Service Manager Meg Deyell says while the theatre host a lot of big showcases like the ballet and Shakespeare, what it lacked was community music. "It's really important for a community to have these focal points, these opportunities to share these experiences together," Ms Deyell says. The Find Your Voice Collective, a choir made up of 200 plus people of all abilities and ages, were the first to grace the piano as it arrived in Warrnambool last month. "Some are in wheelchairs, some have intellectual disabilities, others just love being part of the group and have joined," Ms Deyell says. Up north in Townsville, Dr April Miu says music plays a huge role not only for her but also her community. "I have been playing the piano since I was a child. It's been something that I've grown up with and it's been a way for me to relax after a difficult day." Dr Miu says. The surgeon at Breastscreen Queensland says this sentiment is something she shares with her local community. The north-eastern town of Queensland was hit hard earlier in the year by flooding that left houses inundated and cars destroyed. There were records of more than 200 millimetres of rain falling across parts of north Queensland, which Dr Miu recalls was a difficult time for her town. This was her motivation behind nominating her local hospital to receive an ABC Pop-Up Piano. "[It's] for the community to have a nice distraction, especially when someone comes to a hospital because they don't come to the hospital without a purpose… and the purpose isn't necessarily the most positive thing," she says. Dr Miu is among the local musicians who will be performing at the Townsville University Hospital's Pop Up Piano Community Concert. Pop-Up Piano Community concerts are happening in winning towns across Australia over the next few months.
