CT salvage yard with ties to Nascar proposes 36,000-sq-ft recycling center

A Connecticut salvage yard with a connection to Nascar racing has proposed building a two-story recycling center on its property.

Lajoie’s Auto Wrecking Co. plans to erect the 36,000-square-foot building on its 3.58-acre property at 40 Meadow St., according to plans filed with the city.

The building’s first floor will house an area for receiving, processing and shipping metal materials, a garage and welding area for business maintenance, offices and restrooms. It will also include a “museum” space to display the LaJoie family’s racing collection and memorabilia.

Family member Randy LaJoie is a former Nascar racecar driver, and is the father of Nascar drivers Corey and Casey LaJoie.

The second floor will contain more office space, a conference room and restrooms, the application said.

Plans also call for demolishing a metal building along the southern boundary of the property. The property currently has a 5,800-square-foot commercial/industrial building and other structures, including storage bays for recycled projects and an automobile crusher. 

LaJoie’s, doing business as D&R Inc. of Norwalk and DLJ Associates, recycles vehicles and other metal products for reuse by the building trades and other industries.

Francis LaJoie founded the company more than 100 years ago as a business that recycled rags and paper. Today, it sells aluminum scrap to Pennex, Alcoa and Novelis; copper to Revere Copper, Acupowder International and Cambridge-Lee Industries; and steel scrap to Commercial Metals, McWane Ductile and Sims Metal Management.

 “In its century of existence and operation in Norwalk, LaJoie’s has served local residents and businesses, as well as large companies with government contracts  such as Sokorsky Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney and Hubbell, and municipalities through Fairfield County, and various police and fire departments,” the application stated. 

“Furthermore, the majority of the extended LaJoie family continues to reside in Norwalk – raising their families here, paying taxes here, spending their time working here, and patronizing local businesses.”