Reprinted from article by OJ Stapleton, Editor, News-Democrat & Leader, Russellville, KY on April 18, 2008 

Logan County's newest business, Cumberland Scrap Processors is now up and running.

The scrap yard opened its doors to the public April 18, 2008 and is currently accepting all kinds of scrap metal from factories, businesses and individuals.

Cumberland Scrap will accept all kinds of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper as well as all types of steel.

"We have some restrictions," General Manager Carl Adkins said. "We're not going to take any hazardous materials, but other than that you can bring us just about anything and we'll take care of it."

The facility is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4PM, but it will take care of some industrial clients after normal business hours.

Adkins said that there are some typical misconceptions about scrap metal processing facilities.  Cumberland Scrap isn't a junkyard, but a very clean operation that takes unwanted metal and makes it easier to transport to other facilities for re-use.

"The whole purpose is to densify light materials and make it more compact and heavier so that we can transport it," Adkins said.  We're going to comply with all EPA and water testing regulations.  We really want to be a 'green' organization and not be a blight on the community."

Cumberland Scrap was built from the ground up.  The operation is owned by a pair of parent companies, OmniSource out of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Cohen Brothers, Inc., Middleton, Ohio and has been in the works for about three years.  Adkins said that he came down three years ago to put in a scrap facility somewhere in this area to help serve existing businesses in Nashville and Portland, TN.  Adkins said that it did not take long for Russellville to be chosen as the site for the processing plant.  It is very centrally located to our existing customer base.  If you look on a map of who we are doing business with, Russellville is pretty mcuh right in the middle. Logan County also has a good highway system and rail access, which are big key factors. The property was purchased in 2006 and it was just 21 acres of grass, now they are up and running.

Adkins said that locating in Russellville was made easier thanks to the local government and Logan Economic Alliance for Development.  The local authorities have been extremely good to work with.  The Logan County Fiscal Court and LEAD have been very accomodating and should be commended for their work. 

The scrap facility should be an asset to the community when it comes to economic development.  A facility like this is an integral part of manufacturing.  It helps to attract manufacturing because it will give a factory the ability to dispose of any scrap metal.  Cumberland Scrap Processors is already working closely with local industries such as Precision Strip at South Union.  The operation could also be beneficial in brining in additional industry.  It has also generated some more jobs. It is currently employing 16 people and that number will increase to between 20-25 in the next coupld of months.  Adkins said that they have plans to expand and employ up to 50 or more employees in the future.