Scrap and recycling vendor profiles
This category compiles informational profiles of larger scrap processors and recyclers. The profiles are based on publicly available information and are not affiliated with the companies covered. Each profile follows a consistent format so readers can compare scope, services, and seller-side norms across vendors.
Vendor profiles
- OmniSource — Steel Dynamics' scrap arm; one of the largest North American ferrous and non-ferrous processors
- Weissman's Scrap — regional processor with full-service yards
Profile format
Every profile follows the same outline so readers can compare apples to apples:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| At a glance | Footprint, ownership, mill relationships, scale |
| What sellers encounter | Materials accepted, peddler-account program, hours |
| Practical notes | ID rules, payment policy, scale-house norms |
| Pricing posture | Daily, weekly, or per-call price updates |
| Locations | Geographic concentration and major facilities |
| Disclaimers | Affiliation status |
Other major U.S. scrap processors
Beyond the profiled companies, a handful of public and private operators run national or multi-state footprints:
- Sims Metal Management — publicly traded, global footprint with strong East Coast and West Coast presence
- Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel) — publicly traded, West Coast and Northeast
- Commercial Metals Company (CMC) — publicly traded, integrated with its own EAF mini-mills
- SA Recycling — private, multi-state Western U.S.
- Cohen — private, Midwest and Southeast
- Nucor's scrap subsidiaries (including the David J. Joseph Company) — captive feedstock for Nucor mills
Frequently asked questions
Are these profiles affiliate listings?
No. Every profile carries a "not affiliated" disclaimer. They exist as a research resource, not as paid placements.
How do publicly traded scrap processors compare to private ones?
Public processors (Sims, Radius, CMC) disclose pricing trends, volumes, and margins in quarterly filings, which makes them useful reference points for the broader market. Private operators tend to be regionally concentrated and competitive on flexibility for unusual loads.
What's the difference between a merchant scrap dealer and a captive mill supplier?
Merchant dealers sell tonnage to whichever mill bids highest on a given week. Captive suppliers (OmniSource for SDI, DJJ for Nucor) feed a parent or affiliated mill first and only sell external tonnage at the margin.
Related
- Industry Guide hub — the broader industry view
- Mills & Markets — where these vendors send their tonnage
- Trade & Pricing — the macro forces that shape every vendor's price sheet
- Regulation — the rules every vendor operates under
- Selling Guide → Pricing — seller-side context for vendor price sheets
- Local Guide → Scrap yards near me — finding any of these vendors in your area
- Copper price — live copper benchmark referenced in vendor sheets