Metro Group

What Metro Group does

Metro Group, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned scrap metal recycling, brokerage, and transloading company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1976 by third-generation operator Bill Bond (evolving out of an early-1900s Bontsik family scrap collection business), the company operates nine facilities across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, employing more than 250 people and processing approximately 1.5 million pounds of metal per day. It is currently operated by 4th and 5th generation family members alongside a dedicated core management team. The business serves two distinct customer segments: commercial/industrial accounts (manufacturers, demolition contractors, construction firms, steel fabricators, mining operations, and logistics companies) and retail consumers who bring scrap directly to Metro's buying doors for cash payment.

Metro's service platform spans six core offerings: retail recycling (walk-in scrap purchase with on-site weighing and immediate payment), commercial metal recycling (container delivery, scheduled pickup, and on-site demolition cleanup), container services (Square Bins, Lugger, Roll-off, Flatbed, Low-Sided, and Box Trailers with 5,000–45,000 lb capacities), transloading (rail-to-truck material handling at a 10-acre facility with three rail spurs connecting Union Pacific and BNSF), international brokerage (intermediating transactions between scrap yards and global buyers across Latin America, Europe, and Asia), and a Recycling Rewards loyalty program managed through the RewardBooth mobile platform. Underlying technology is commodity-logistics oriented — state-of-the-art sorting, weighing, and grading equipment, heavy loading machinery, and a full owned fleet of trucks and trailers — rather than software- or AI-driven. The company holds no disclosed patents, AI/ML capabilities, or external institutional capital.

Metro's revenue model combines transactional buy-sell spreads on scrap metal purchase and resale (to domestic mills/foundries and international buyers via brokerage), container service fees, transloading fees, and brokerage commissions. Pricing is market-based with publicly published retail rates (e.g., ferrous $80–$95/ton, aluminum $0.70–$1.95/lb, copper $1.75–$4.95/lb, brass $2.45–$3.00/lb) and customized commercial pricing for larger volumes. Distribution is conducted through a regional field-sales motion targeting enterprise accounts, direct-to-consumer walk-in locations, and channel partnerships with non-competing yards in adjacent markets. The company has grown through a combination of organic expansion and three acquisition waves (2003, 2013, 2016), maintaining anchor relationships including a 34-year partnership with Kennecott Utah Copper and 20+ year relationships with Utility Trailer Manufacturing and Robinson Fans.

Name

Metro Group

Legal name

Metro Group, Inc.

Website

https://metrogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metro Group is a privately held, family-owned scrap metal recycler, broker, and transloading company operating nine facilities across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. It serves commercial and industrial customers with container, on-site cleanup, and rail-truck transloading services, plus retail walk-in consumers, processing approximately 1.5 million pounds of metal daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scrap Metal Recycling Services

NAICS

Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (BPALADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scrap Metal Collection, Logistics & Aggregation (Yards, Roll-off, Container Programs) (IMAKAMAK), Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB), Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Steel/Iron) (EUAIAJAA), Scrap & Recyclables Bulk Transport (Metal/Glass/Paper) (TLADAKAL)

Keywords

• Scrap metal recycling
• Ferrous non-ferrous metals
• Transloading services
• Metal brokerage services
• Commercial container services

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scrap Metal Purchasing and Resale: Metro purchases scrap metal from commercial and retail customers, processes it, and resells to mills and foundries domestically and internationally
2. Brokerage Services: Metro acts as intermediary between scrap yards and international buyers, facilitating global transactions and earning commissions on trades
3. Transloading Services: Moving materials between rail and truck for customers without rail facilities. Includes load brokering and transportation logistics support
4. Container Services: Providing and delivering containers for commercial clients to collect scrap metal, with scheduled pickups

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Metro Group purchases, processes, and resells scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous such as steel, aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless) from commercial and retail customers at nine yards across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. It complements this core recycling business with rail-to-truck transloading services connecting Union Pacific and BNSF rail networks to truck transportation, and an international brokerage that matches processed scrap with overseas mills and foundries in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company also delivers containers, executes on-site demolition cleanups, and serves as Utah's premier full-service metal recycler.

Product overview

Metro Group is a scrap metal recycling company operating as a multi-service platform offering retail recycling, commercial metal recycling, transloading, and brokerage services. The core offering combines retail drop-off with commercial container services and on-site cleanup capabilities. The transloading service connects Union Pacific and BNSF rail networks with truck transportation. Brokerage services facilitate international trade. Container services include Square Bins, Lugger Containers, Roll-off Containers, Flatbed Trailers, Low-Sided Trailers, and Box Trailers. The company operates multiple Utah and Idaho locations and supports a Recycling Rewards Program through the RewardBooth platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retail Recycling Scrap metal recycling service for individuals; pays customers cash for aluminum cans, copper wire, brass fixtures, old appliances, catalytic converters, and other accepted metals brought directly to Metro yard locations.
• Commercial Metal Recycling Business-focused scrap metal recycling services including container delivery, scheduled pickup, commercial buyer consultations, and on-site cleanup for construction, demolition, and industrial operations.
• Container Services Delivery and pickup of multiple container types (Square Bins, Lugger Containers, Roll-off Containers, Flatbed Trailers, Low-Sided Trailers, Box Trailers) sized 5,000 to 45,000 lbs for commercial scrap collection, with scheduled pickups.
• On-Site Cleanups Large-scale demolition and scrap removal at customer locations; Metro evaluates the site, executes cleanup, removes materials, and pays customers based on weight and preparation needs.
• Transloading Services Rail-to-truck material handling connecting Union Pacific and BNSF rail networks with truck transportation, supported by heavy loading equipment, storage, and load brokering; routinely handles loads exceeding 70,000 lbs.
• Scrap Metal Brokerage Intermediation service connecting scrap yards with international buyers in Latin America, Europe, and Asia to facilitate competitive scrap metal transactions and earn commissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34-year partnership with Kennecott Utah Copper with zero recordable accidents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Kennecott Utah CoppercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 198734-year partnership providing grinding media transloading and delivery services to mining and copper refining operation. No recordable accidents throughout partnership.
• Union Pacific RailroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro Transloading connects with Union Pacific rail for receiving and shipping materials. Open switching arrangement allows direct railcar deliveries.
• BNSF RailwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro Transloading connects with BNSF rail for receiving and shipping materials. Open switching arrangement allows direct railcar deliveries.
• Salt Lake Railroad (Utah Railway)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing working relationship with Salt Lake Railroad, characterized by clear, open, and timely communication.
• Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransloading partner for SLC International Airport redevelopment project. Metro handled over 5000 pieces of H-pile sections and steel pipe for the project.
• North American RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner location in Nampa, Idaho recommended for customers seeking closer locations.
• MillCreek MetalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner locations in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho recommended for customers seeking closer locations.
• Redwood RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner location in Taylorsville, Utah; also participates in Charge Your Yard program.
• Valley Metal RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner location in Logan, Utah recommended for customers seeking closer locations.
• Wasatch Metal RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner location in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also participates in Charge Your Yard program and accepts refrigerators with Freon removal for $20 fee.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel): Radius Recycling is a publicly-traded West Coast-focused scrap metal recycler and steel producer with significant operations across the Western US and Pacific Northwest. As a much larger, publicly-funded platform, it competes with Metro for ferrous and non-ferrous scrap supply in overlapping geographies and serves similar end markets (mills, foundries, exporters).
• Republic Services: Republic Services is a major publicly-traded national solid waste and recycling services provider. While broader in scope than Metro, it operates recycling and metals recovery programs that overlap with Metro's commercial container and recycling services for industrial and construction customers.
• Waste Management Inc. Waste Management is the largest US provider of waste and recycling services with significant metals recovery operations. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Metro for commercial waste/recycling contracts and competes in the same end markets for scrap metal, albeit with a much larger national footprint and broader service portfolio.
• Sims Metal Management: Sims Metal is a global publicly-traded scrap metal recycler with significant North American operations. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Metro for non-ferrous scrap supply, international brokerage flows, and end-market relationships with steel mills and foundries. It serves as a relevant larger-scale comparator for Metro's growth trajectory.

Direct peers

• North American Recycling: North American Recycling operates as a channel partner to Metro Group in Nampa, Idaho and is a regional scrap metal recycler in the Pacific Northwest/Intermountain West. It directly competes with Metro in Idaho and surrounding markets for both retail and commercial scrap volumes.
• MillCreek Metals: MillCreek Metals operates scrap metal recycling yards in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho as a channel partner to Metro Group. It is a direct regional competitor serving similar retail and commercial customers in Idaho with comparable services (ferrous/non-ferrous buying, container service).
• Wasatch Metal Recycling: Wasatch Metal Recycling operates a Salt Lake City scrap metal yard as a Metro Group channel partner participating in the Charge Your Yard program. It is a direct local competitor serving the same Salt Lake City retail and commercial customers with similar ferrous/non-ferrous recycling services.
• Redwood Recycling: Redwood Recycling operates in Taylorsville, Utah as a Metro Group channel partner. It is a direct regional competitor in the Salt Lake City metro area, serving similar retail walk-in and commercial scrap customers with comparable pricing transparency and service offerings.
• Valley Metal Recycling: Valley Metal Recycling operates in Logan, Utah as a Metro Group channel partner. It is a direct competitor in northern Utah serving similar retail and commercial customers with comparable scrap metal buying services.

Regional players

• Casella Waste Systems: Casella Waste Systems is a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services provider primarily serving the Northeastern US. While geographically non-overlapping with Metro, it operates a comparable model of vertically-integrated waste collection and recycling services including metals recovery, making it a useful operational comparator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTSYtMKS3V1y_7ZhwSKnuOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MetroRecyclers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3115710
• Instagraminstagram.com/metrogroupinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Metro Group