With 200,000 square feet of triage, sort, staging, testing, de-manufacturing and "end-of-life" processing space, 5R Processors, Ltd. is becoming a leader in the ever-changing global market of asset management and computer beneficial reuse and recycling services.

5R specializes in providing full service materials processing and electronic recycling services. In today's "Information Age," computers and other electronics become obsolete in less than two years. In most cases, the value of the original product and its materials has decreased by 80%, which has created a backlog of electronics stored in warehouses, office buildings, and eventually ending up in landfills or incinerators.

Since its humble beginnings in an abandoned cheese factory in Catawba WI in 1988, 5R has provided full service materials processing and recycling. 5R began as a precious and non-ferrous metals recovery operation, processing "end of life" mainframe computers, telecommunications and electronic medical hardware. The nature of this activity required licensing by several regulatory agencies including the EPA. Today we are recognized as a significant and published leader in the field of environmentally friendly processor of "end of life" hazardous electronic hardware, including cathode ray tubes. 5R Processors, Ltd. was incorporated in 1990.

Through the five "R" processes, "Reuse, Recover, Reclaim, Refurbish and Recycle...", hazardous by-products of electronic equipment is are kept out of our landfills, often saving our clients money and reducing environmental liability.

What makes us different?

With large mainframe computers quickly becoming a thing of the past, 5R positioned itself to find new sources of revenue. Commodity sales of re-use hardware and parts were added to the metal recovery process. Today these channels of revenue continue to grow along with the significant addition of environmental processing fees. Technical capabilities for direct billing and sales support have been developed at all of our locations.

During this transitional period, challenges were met and new recycling processes were developed through our Research and Development team. 5R quickly became recognized as an organization capable of resolving difficult issues and demonstrated success as a norm. 5R also became the first domestic processor of precious metals to recover palladium through a closed loop chemical process. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reviewed this innovative process and issued 5R a Beneficial Re-use Permit. This Permit showed that we were able to demonstrate an advanced process that was previously unheard of. 5R continues its R & D activities and is developing a process that will revolutionize the plastics recovery business.

Today, 5R offers a complete line of electronic recycling services. While recycling a vast array of electronic equipment, we work on several different levels to accommodate the needs of our customers. We handle the recycling requirements of commercial, industrial, federal, state, city, and small privately owned businesses. 5R participates in household collection events designed to help communities dispose of old, outdated electronic equipment. 5R has partnered in the Knoxville, TN area on a pilot program with Goodwill Industries to collect outdated electronic equipment, establishing a triage operation to provide work for Goodwill clients, and "R"educing e-waste from entering landfills.

What makes 5R unique is that we are a complete and true electronics recycler. Recycle processes are completed on-site. Nothing is shipped until it is broken down to its base components and then sold as a re-usable commodity. We also provide our customers with peace of mind by taking away any toxic waste liabilities that might arise when disposing of electronic equipment. Furthermore, 5R provides complete and confidential destruction of sensitive equipment and issues the customer a certificate of destruction when the process is complete.

In addition to recycling services, 5R offers contract services, refining of precious metals, equipment design and process engineering. We pride ourselves as being an innovative powerhouse. Our expert staff provides simple, no-nonsense advice on recycling and environmental concerns. We also offer expert assistance in proposals and permit preparation and other technical writings and documentation.