Kentucky鈥檚 Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) team recently welcomed metals manufacturing industry veteran Laura Haury as the organization鈥檚 sustainability project coordinator. Haury鈥檚 role will bridge manufacturing operations, environmental stewardship and public education, one of the only roles of its kind in the state.
In her position, Haury will focus on recycling efforts, environmental education and outreach. In partnership with The Recycling Society鈥檚 Million Can contest, she will also help raise awareness about aluminum recycling while developing school and community programs to increase current recycling rates.
“Aluminum recycling and all metals recovery are critical to our industry, our economy and our environment,鈥� said Haury. 鈥淗elping our children to learn the importance of recycling and giving them the tools to become lifelong recyclers equals sustainability. MI2’s plan, in partnership with The Recycling Society, is to take the program we’ve developed in our region to the whole Commonwealth and really make a difference in recycling rates.鈥�
Haury brings decades of experience in environmental engineering and manufacturing sustainability to MI2. Most recently, Haury spent nearly two decades with Logan Aluminum, where she served as senior environmental engineer, leading efforts in water quality management, waste reduction, recycling and environmental compliance. During her tenure, Haury provided environmental leadership through three major manufacturing expansions while playing a key role in advancing sustainability initiatives at one of Kentucky鈥檚 largest metals operations.
MI2鈥檚 sustainability efforts support Kentucky鈥檚 metals industry, which contributes $38 billion in annual economic output and supports more than 132,000 jobs statewide. Haury鈥檚 role reinforces MI2鈥檚 mission to align industry, education and innovation to ensure the long-term strength and continued viability of the Commonwealth鈥檚 metals sector.