What United Scrap Metal, Inc. does

United Scrap Metal, Inc. is a privately held, full-service scrap metal and recyclable commodities company founded in 1978 by Marsha Serlin with $200 and a rental truck. Headquartered in Cicero, Illinois, the company purchases, processes, and markets ferrous metals (cast iron, coils, forgings, sheet iron, shavings), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper, lead, stainless steel, nickel alloys), and non-metallic materials (paper, plastic, wood). It serves two sides of the market: industrial generators of scrap—manufacturers, metal service centers, utilities, and demolition/construction contractors—and global downstream consumers including mills, foundries, specialty markets, and investment casting companies.

The company operates nine processing facilities across the United States (Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama), supported by an owned delivery fleet with 24/7 order processing and a bar-coded real-time inventory system. Its proprietary RIMAS Online customer portal handles account management, scheduling, and quoting. United Scrap Metal is certified under ISO 14001:2015, RIOS, and GBAC STAR, and holds WBENC Certified Women-Owned Business status—enabling customers to fulfill supplier diversity requirements. The company's technology stack is functional and operational rather than software-platform-centric; there is no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Commercially, United Scrap Metal runs a transaction-based revenue model: it purchases scrap at quote-based pricing tied to material type and volume, then resells processed commodities downstream. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales, supplemented by self-service through RIMAS Online and direct dispatch contact. The company has earned repeat recognition—SBA National Subcontractor of the Year, multiple Platts Global Metals Awards, ISRI Safety Excellence, EHS Today America's Safest Place to Work—and maintains preferred-supplier relationships with Alcoa, Aurubis, Olin Corporation, Exelon, and Elkay.

Name

United Scrap Metal, Inc.

Legal name

United Scrap Metal

Website

https://unitedscrap.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

United Scrap Metal is a privately held, Cicero, Illinois-based recycler founded in 1978 that purchases, processes, and markets ferrous, non-ferrous, and non-metallic recyclable commodities through nine U.S. facilities, serving manufacturers, utilities, demolition contractors, mills, and foundries via own-fleet logistics and the RIMAS Online portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scrap Metal Recycling Services

NAICS

Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)

SIC

Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050)

akta.pro primary industry

Scrap Metal Collection, Logistics & Aggregation (Yards, Roll-off, Container Programs) (IMAKAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Brokerage (Aluminum, Copper, Brass/Bronze, Lead, Zinc, Nickel) (IMAKAMAB), Scrap Metal Export/Import & Trading (International Sourcing, Compliance, Documentation) (IMAKAMAL), Industrial & Manufacturing Scrap Recycling (Factory Scrap, Turnings, Offcuts) (IMAKAMAE)

Keywords

• Scrap metal recycling
• Ferrous metals processing
• Non-ferrous metals recycling
• Recyclable commodities trading
• Industrial recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cicero

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Recyclable Commodity Trading: United Scrap Metal purchases, processes, and markets recyclable commodities including ferrous metals (cast iron, clips, coils, flashings, forgings, foundry steel, sheet iron, shavings, scrap rail crops), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, lead, nickel batteries, stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper), and non-metallic materials (paper grades, plastic grades, wood material). Revenue is generated through the purchase of scrap materials from customers and sale to global consumers including mills, foundries, specialty markets, and investment casting companies.
2. Recycling Rebate Program: Provides opportunity for customers to donate a percentage of their overall recycling revenue to Ronald McDonald House Charities on an ongoing basis, creating customer loyalty and recurring engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Scrap Metal purchases, processes, and markets recyclable commodities including ferrous metals (cast iron, clips, coils, forgings, sheet iron, shavings, scrap rail crops), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper, lead, stainless steel, nickel alloys), and non-metallic materials (paper, plastic, wood). The company serves manufacturers, metal service centers, utilities, demolition and construction contractors across nine U.S. facilities, providing customized recycling programs, scheduled pick-ups, and resale of processed commodities to mills, foundries, specialty markets, and investment casting companies globally.

Product overview

United Scrap Metal offers a unified suite of recycling solutions centered on its scrap metal purchasing, processing, and marketing services. The core offering encompasses ferrous metals (cast iron, clips, coils, forgings, sheet iron, shavings, scrap rail crops), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper, lead, stainless steel, nickel alloys), and non-metallic materials (paper, plastic, wood). Customers access services through the proprietary RIMAS Online customer portal, with additional service modules including scheduled pick-up scheduling and quote request functionality. The company operates nine facilities across the United States and leverages a bar-coded inventory system with real-time information to process and ship orders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United in Leadership (UiL): Internal leadership development program with four progressive tracks: Immersion, Elevate, Rising, and Ascend, designed to develop leaders at all levels of the organization.

Products and services

• Scrap Metal Recycling Services Core service offering in which United Scrap Metal purchases, processes, and markets recyclable commodities including ferrous metals (cast iron, clips, coils, forgings, sheet iron, shavings, scrap rail crops), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, brass, copper, lead, stainless steel, nickel alloys), and non-metallic materials (paper, plastic, wood). Serves manufacturers, metal service centers, utilities, demolition and construction contractors across nine U.S. facilities.
• Pick-Up Scheduling Service Service enabling customers to schedule scrap metal and recyclable material pick-ups, with pick-ups typically executed within 24 hours of request. Includes dispatch contact via [email protected] and 708-780-0079, and uses various equipment including Roll-Off, Lugger Box, Gondola Trailer, Van Trailer, and Flatbed Trailer.
• Request a Quote Service Quote request service for recyclable commodities including aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, alloys, steel, and obsolete machinery. Pricing varies based on material type, approximate volume, and pickup logistics requirements.
• RIMAS Online Customer Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• Exceeding customer expectations through dedicated customer service and reliable operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ronald McDonald House CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Formal partnership created in 2005 with Ronald McDonald House Charities. The company has spearheaded unique initiatives including a Recycling Rebate Program allowing customers to donate a percentage of recycling revenue, the annual Recycle for Ronald Event, and Pop Tab Recycling Program. Over $2,000,000 has been raised, accounting for approximately 30,000 nights families can stay at Ronald McDonald House locations. The company participates in fundraising boards, project committees, annual galas, and coordinates trips to local facilities.
• ComEd CONSTRUCT Infrastructure AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud participant in ComEd's CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy - an 11-week training program providing information and guidance for entry-level field and office jobs. The program is powered by an alliance of companies, social service agencies and labor unions committed to building a stronger and more diverse workforce.
• AurubiscoreOthersWon 1st Aurubis Outstanding Supplier Award in 2004. Established national strategic alliance with large aluminum distributor.
• AlcoacoreOthersWon Alcoa Preferred Scrap Supplier Award for four consecutive years. Longstanding preferred supplier relationship.
• Olin CorporationcoreOthersWon Olin Corporation Top Scrap Supplier Award in 2015.
• ExeloncoreOthersWon Exelon Diverse Supplier of the Year Award in 2017. Preferred diverse supplier relationship.
• ElkayminorOthersWon Elkay Global Social Responsibility Supplier of the Year Award in 2022.
• ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries)coreOthersActive membership in ISRI. Won ISRI Safety Excellence & Superior Transportation Fleet Awards in 2018.
• AWMI (Association of Women in the Metal Industries)minorOthersWon AWMI Company of the Year award. Active membership in association supporting women in the metal industry.
• Illinois Recycling AssociationminorOthersWon Illinois Recycling Association Outstanding Recycling Business Award. Active membership supporting recycling industry in Illinois.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedscrap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-scrap

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Scrap Metal, Inc.