What John Ross & Sons does

John Ross & Sons Ltd. is a fifth-generation, family-owned scrap metal recycling and trading company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, operating since 1938. The company purchases, grades, sorts, processes, and sells ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals from eleven owned and affiliated locations across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, serving manufacturers, demolition contractors, smaller recycling yards, international traders, and walk-in individual sellers. Its processing capability rests on physical infrastructure — an auto-shredder operational since 2015, a wire and cable processing facility launched in 2022 in Halifax, a mobile baling division, and advanced sorting and packaging to domestic and international mill specifications — supported by a full-service in-house logistics and documentation department.

The business operates on a spread-based, quote-driven model: it buys scrap at variable prices based on metal type, quantity, quality, and prevailing market conditions, then sells processed bulk metal domestically and exports approximately 80% of volume through the Port of Halifax to buyers in North America, China, Pakistan, India, Europe, and Malaysia. Revenue diversification includes new and used structural steel sales, container/dumpster rentals, cardboard (OCC) recycling, and Enviro Depot beverage-container refunds for individual consumers. Direct AQSIQ licensing from the Chinese government (originally 2004, renewed 2022) enables direct self-inspector status and elevated export capacity into China, reinforcing its position as the largest metal recycler in Atlantic Canada.

Name

John Ross & Sons

Legal name

John Ross & Sons Ltd.

Website

https://jrsons.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

John Ross & Sons Ltd. is a fifth-generation, family-owned Atlantic Canadian scrap metal recycler and trader operating 11 locations since 1938, purchasing ferrous and non-ferrous metals from manufacturers, contractors, and the public, and exporting roughly 80% of processed volume through the Port of Halifax.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scrap Metal Recycling

NAICS

Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (42393), 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), Ferrous Scrap Processing & Brokerage (Steel & Cast Iron) (IMAKAMAA), Metal Scrap Trading & Brokerage (Ferrous & Non-Ferrous) (IMAKAJAI), Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (BPALADAF)

Keywords

• Scrap metal recycling
• Ferrous non-ferrous metals
• Structural steel sales
• Metal export trading
• Container bin rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scrap Metal Purchasing: The company purchases all types of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals from manufacturers, demolition contractors, smaller recycling yards, traders, and individual sellers. Payments are made to sellers turning their metal into cash.
2. Bulk Scrap Metal Sales: Through advanced sorting and packaging methods, the company sells processed metals in bulk to buyers meeting domestic and international mill specifications
3. New Structural Steel Sales: Sale of new and used structural steel including angle, beams, flat bar, channel, tubing, sheets, plate, wire mesh, rebar, pipe, and expanded metal
4. Container/Dumpster Rentals: Open-top dumpster bin rentals and sea-container rentals for contractors and the general public for waste removal
5. Cardboard/Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) Recycling: Processing and recycling of old corrugated cardboard, making high-grade packages ready for pulping plants around the world. Offered free of charge to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

John Ross & Sons purchases, grades, processes, and sells ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals from eleven locations across Atlantic Canada. The company processes scrap into bulk shipments meeting domestic and international mill specifications, exports through the Port of Halifax, and sells new and used structural steel. It also operates EnviroDepot beverage container refunds, cardboard recycling, and container/dumpster rentals.

Product overview

John Ross & Sons is a scrap metal recycling company offering a unified portfolio of metal recycling services rather than a software platform. The core offerings include Scrap Metal Buying (purchasing ferrous and non-ferrous metals), Bulk Scrap Metal Sales (selling processed metals to manufacturers), and New Structural Steel Sales. Supporting processing services include Crushing/Mobile Baling for car and tin processing, Wire and Cable Processing, and Auto-Shredding. The company also operates consumer-facing Enviro Depot recycling centers and cardboard recycling services. Container/Dumpster Rentals provide waste management for contractors. These services operate across eleven company-owned and affiliated locations throughout Atlantic Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scrap Metal Buying Purchase, grading, and processing of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals from manufacturers, contractors, demolition companies, and individuals. Non-ferrous materials include copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, nickel alloys, and electronics; ferrous materials include fridges, water heaters, steel beams, washers/dryers, air conditioning units, cars, and stoves.
• Bulk Scrap Metal Sales Processing and selling ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals in bulk quantities to manufacturers and industrial buyers. Materials are sorted, packaged, and processed according to domestic and international mill specifications.
• New Structural Steel Sales Sale of new and used structural steel in various forms including angle, beams, flat bar, channel, square/rectangular/round tubing, sheets, plate, wire mesh, rebar, well casing, pipe, expanded metal, round bar, and squares.
• Crushing/Mobile Baling Mobile car crushing and tin steel baling services performed by trained teams using specialized equipment for processing end-of-life vehicles and tin materials.
• Auto-Shredding Processing service using the company's state-of-the-art auto-shredder to shred cars and tin steel for efficient recycling.
• Wire and Cable Processing Processing and recycling service for electrical wire and cable materials at the Halifax facility.
• Enviro Depot Refund and recycling centers operated under the EnviroDepot brand in Nova Scotia, allowing the public to return glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers for refund reimbursement.
• Cardboard Recycling Collection and recycling of old corrugated cardboard (OCC). Materials are processed, sorted, and packaged into high-grade bales ready for pulping plants around the world.
• Container/Dumpster Rentals Open-top dumpster bin rentals and sea-container rentals for construction, demolition waste, and home renovation projects, custom-fit to customer needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest recycling facility in Atlantic Canada with #1 market position by volume and pricing
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• A & S Scrap Metals LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Acquired in 2019 to enter the Prince Edward Island market. A & S Scrap Metals operates locations in Charlottetown, PEI serving non-ferrous, ferrous metal customers.
• Dominion Recycling LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Partnership formed in 1992 planting a foothold for John Ross & Sons on the island of Newfoundland. Dominion Recycling operates a location in St. John's, NL with recycling plant and structural steel sales operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SA Recycling: One of the largest independent US ferrous and non-ferrous scrap recyclers, with auto-shredding, metal trading, and export operations. Directly comparable in shredding capacity, mill-spec sales, and export-led revenue model.
• David J. Joseph Company: Nucor subsidiary and one of the largest US scrap metal brokers/processors, sourcing ferrous and non-ferrous for steel mills. Comparable in brokerage-led model, export trading, and mill-spec processing capabilities.
• OmniSource Corporation: US-based scrap metal processor and broker (part of Steel Dynamics) operating yards handling ferrous, non-ferrous, and auto-shredding. Comparable in integrated collection-to-mill sales model and processing equipment footprint.
• Sims Limited: ASX-listed global scrap metal recycler with North American operations (SIMS Metal Management) collecting, processing, and trading ferrous and non-ferrous scrap. Closely comparable to John Ross & Sons in core activity, customer base (mills and international traders), and export-led model.
• Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries): US-based scrap metal recycler and exporter operating yard and shredder networks, with significant export volumes through West Coast ports. Comparable in auto-shredding, ferrous/non-ferrous processing, and bulk mill-spec sales to international markets.
• Upstate Shredding (Weitsman Recycling): Privately held US scrap metal recycler with multiple yards, auto-shredding, and ferrous/non-ferrous processing. Comparable private, multi-location, family-style operating model focused on industrial and consumer scrap sources.
• EMR Metal Recycling: UK-headquartered global scrap metal recycler with extensive North American operations. Closely comparable collection, processing, and international trading model, including non-ferrous specialization and export distribution.
• Tom Martin & Sons: Long-standing Atlantic Canada scrap metal recycler with yards across the region. Direct regional competitor with overlapping customer base (manufacturers, contractors, individuals) and similar ferrous/non-ferrous collection and sales model.

Broad incumbents

• Cascades Recovery: Recycling division of Cascades Inc., a Canadian public materials company with broader recycling and packaging operations. Comparable in regional Canadian recycling footprint and corrugated cardboard (OCC) processing, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Wieland Metal Recycling: Global metal recycling arm of Wieland Group, focused on non-ferrous copper and alloy scrap recovery. Comparable in non-ferrous processing capability and export-oriented trading, though more specialized in copper than John Ross & Sons' broad ferrous/non-ferrous mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 John Ross & Sons