What Scholz Recycling does

Scholz Recycling GmbH is one of Europe's largest traders, processors and recyclers of steel and metal scrap, operating across more than 200 sites in Germany, Central/Eastern Europe and Asia as the primary operating subsidiary of the Scholz Group under the Chiho Environmental Group. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Essingen, Germany, the company employs approximately 3,000 staff and reported €1.63B in turnover for 2022. Its core activities cover steel and metal scrap trading (ferrous and non-ferrous, including copper, aluminum and special alloys), industrial demolition and dismantling, and certified end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling.

The company's processing capability rests on shredder and post-shredder systems, sensor-based Mid-Infrared (MIR) sorting, AI-based sorting and pick-robot systems for contaminant removal, supported by logistics infrastructure positioned near steel mills and foundries. A dense German network of 50+ collection yards (including Essingen, Chemnitz, Erfurt, Leipzig and Schwäbisch Gmünd) plus Central European operations (e.g., Kovosrot Group CZ, Pilsen) drives feedstock access. The firm holds EU Regulation 333/715 end-of-waste certification for iron, steel, aluminum and copper scrap, ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001 management certifications, AEO customs authorization, Entsorgungsfachbetrieb disposal status and Altfahrzeug-Verordnung ELV permits. The RECY-ONLINE portal handles digital transactions, and R&D efforts (e.g., the BMW-led Car2Car consortium) target higher recovery rates for ELV materials.

Scholz operates a direct-sales model with quote-based, customized pricing. Revenue is generated from (i) transaction-fee steel and metal scrap trading and processing, (ii) ELV recycling, (iii) demolition, deconstruction and material analysis services, and (iv) public-sector waste management. Customer segments include industrial companies and steel mills/foundries (primary), automotive OEMs (via research partnerships such as BMW), public institutions, and self-deliverers/SMBs. In May 2026, the Scholz Group signed an agreement to be acquired by French metal recycler Derichebourg, with closing expected in H2 2026, which will reshape the ownership and strategic posture going forward.

Name

Scholz Recycling

Legal name

Scholz Recycling GmbH

Website

https://scholz-recycling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Scholz Recycling GmbH is a German metal and steel scrap recycler operating across 200+ sites in Europe and Asia, serving industrial customers, steel mills, foundries, automotive OEMs and public institutions with trading, processing, demolition and certified end-of-life vehicle recycling services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Recycling and Scrap Processing

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (42393), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling & Finishing Mills (3310), Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Auto Shredding & Metal Fragmentation (Shredder Operations) (EUAIAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Steel/Iron) (EUAIAJAA), Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB), Scrap Collection, Brokerage & Trading (Dealers, Aggregators, Exporters) (EUAIAJAH)

Keywords

• Metal scrap recycling
• Steel scrap processing
• Non-ferrous metal recycling
• End-of-life vehicle recycling
• Industrial demolition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Essingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices51 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Steel and Metal Scrap Trading: Trading of steel and metal scraps in all qualities and varieties, serving as one of the most important suppliers to steel mills and foundries.
2. Scrap Processing and Recovery Services: Processing and recovery operations for steel and metal scraps using modern facilities, shredding, and sorting equipment to produce secondary raw materials.
3. Demolition and Dismantling Services: Industrial demolition, core dismantling, decontamination, and material analysis services for large industrial facilities and construction projects.
4. End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling: Specialized ELV recycling services including depollution, dismantling, and material recovery, with facilities certified under Altfahrzeug-Verordnung.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Scholz Recycling GmbH trades, processes, and recycles steel and metal scrap in all qualities and grades, serving as one of the most important suppliers to European steel mills and foundries. Its operations span shredding, post-shredder sorting (including MIR sensor and AI-based systems), end-of-life vehicle dismantling, industrial demolition and decontamination, and collection of secondary recyclables such as electronics scrap, plastics, and wood. The company runs more than 200 collection points, yards, and processing facilities primarily across Germany and Central/Eastern Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RECY-ONLINE: Online platform for recycling services and transactions

Products and services

• Steel and Metal Scrap Trading and Processing Trading, processing, and recycling of steel and metal scrap in all qualities and grades, supplying secondary raw materials to steel mills, foundries, and industrial customers across Germany and Europe.
• Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Processing and Trading Processing and trading of non-ferrous metal scrap including copper, aluminum, and other valuable metals recovered from industrial and post-consumer sources.
• Alloyed Steel Scrap and Special Alloys Specialized processing and trading of alloyed steel scrap and special alloys, including declassified steel products, for use in steel production and foundry operations.
• End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling Certified dismantling and shredding of end-of-life vehicles with recovery of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, glass, and electronic components at facilities certified under the German Altfahrzeug-Verordnung.
• Recyclable Materials Collection (Wertstoffe) Collection and processing of recyclable materials including electronics scrap, plastics, wood, and other value-containing waste streams under ElektroG initial treatment facility certifications.
• Industrial Demolition and Dismantling Services Professional demolition, deconstruction, core removal, decontamination, and material value analysis services for large industrial facilities, infrastructure projects, and construction sites.
• Logistics and Transportation Services Comprehensive logistics and transportation services for scrap and secondary raw materials, leveraging geographic proximity to steelworks and foundries as well as favorable transport connections across Germany and Central/Eastern Europe.
• RECY-ONLINE Online Recycling Platform Online customer portal for managing recycling transactions, accessible to customers via the Scholz Group's web platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contribution to closing material cycles in the secondary sector, enabling circular economy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• DerichebourgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Scholz Group signed agreement to be acquired by Derichebourg, a French metal recycler. The acquisition is expected to close in H2 2026 and will create a globally operating European leader in circular economy. Derichebourg reported H1 2026 net profit of €73.5 million and upgraded full-year EBITDA outlook to €350-370 million.
• AutocirccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024Letter of Intent signed to establish strategic partnership aimed at expanding geographical reach and operational growth across key European markets. Partnership combines core operations of both companies - recycling and car dismantling - to significantly increase volume, quality and availability of parts from end-of-life vehicles and recycled raw materials.
• voestalpinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023Strategic partnership for sustainable steel production, working together on the path to sustainable steel manufacturing using secondary raw materials.
• Kovosrot Group CZminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2023Expansion of Kovosrot Group CZ operations with new yard opening in Pilsen, supporting Central European market presence.
• BMW AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023BMW Group leads consortium for Car2Car research project on circular economy in automotive manufacturing. Scholz Recycling provides vehicle processing at Espenhain facility, processing 500 end-of-life vehicles. Project focuses on steel, aluminum, copper, plastic, and glass recovery. Funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs with €6.4 million.
• thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Steel producer and consortium partner in Car2Car research project for automotive recycling materials recovery.
• Aurubis AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Copper producer and consortium partner in Car2Car research project for copper recovery from end-of-life vehicles.
• Novelis Deutschland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Aluminum producer and consortium partner in Car2Car research project for aluminum recovery.
• Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Steel research entity and consortium partner in Car2Car research project.
• STEINERT UniSort GmbHTechnology or Integration · 9 May 2023Sorting technology provider and consortium partner in Car2Car research project.
• OETINGER Aluminium GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Aluminum processor and consortium partner in Car2Car research project.
• Pilkington Automotive Deutschland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Glass manufacturer and consortium partner in Car2Car research project for glass recovery from end-of-life vehicles.
• A|U|F e.V.minorOthersEnvironmental partnership organization for aluminum and environment in window and facade construction. Scholz Recycling is environmental partner at all locations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stena Recycling: Swedish multinational recycler with operations across Northern Europe handling ferrous scrap, non-ferrous metals, and ELVs. Comparable network-based recycling model targeting industrial customers, public sector, and self-deliverers across multiple European countries.
• EMR Group (European Metal Recycling): UK-headquartered, one of the world's largest metal recyclers with shredder and post-shredder operations serving steel mills across Europe and globally. Directly comparable in scale, processing capabilities, and end-customer set to Scholz Recycling.
• Kuusakoski Oy: Finnish family-owned metal recycling group operating ~40 recycling yards across Northern and Central Europe. Processes ferrous and non-ferrous scrap and ELVs using shredding and post-shredder sorting comparable to Scholz, serving steel mills and foundries with similar GTM.
• Derichebourg: French multinational metal recycler with ferrous, non-ferrous, and ELV operations across Europe. Direct competitor in EU scrap markets and the announced acquirer of Scholz Group (agreement May 2026); H1 2026 net profit €73.5M with FY EBITDA guidance €350-370M makes it one of Europe's two largest metal recyclers alongside Scholz.
• Sims Limited: Australian-listed global metal recycler with major European operations including shredding and ferrous/non-ferrous processing serving the same steel mill and foundry customers as Scholz. Large-scale, multi-continent platform comparable to the Chiho/Scholz infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Aurubis AG: European copper smelter and refiner with significant copper recycling operations across DE, Belgium, and Bulgaria. Car2Car consortium partner with Scholz; processes non-ferrous scrap that overlaps Scholz's NE-metal trading and processing streams, though focused primarily on copper rather than full ferrous/non-ferrous mix.
• Remondis SE & Co. KG: One of Germany's largest private waste management and recycling groups, operating broadly across municipal, commercial, and industrial recycling streams including metals. Larger and more diversified than Scholz, but with overlapping ferrous and non-ferrous processing capabilities competing for the same German industrial customers.
• Chiho Environmental Group: Hong Kong-listed parent company of Scholz Group, operating an Asian and European network of metal recycling and end-of-life processing assets. Provides the corporate platform, capital, and cross-region feedstock linkages for Scholz Recycling and sits at the top of the same business value chain.

Others

• voestalpine AG: Austrian steel producer and strategic partner of Scholz Group (Dec 2023 sustainable steel partnership). Operates at the downstream end of Scholz's value chain - consuming recycled ferrous scrap - rather than competing directly, but is the type of customer that anchors Scholz's long-term scrap off-take.

Regional players

• Wieland Group: German-headquartered non-ferrous metals processor producing copper and alloy semi-finished products from primary and recycled feedstock. Comparable to Scholz's NE-metals business unit for non-ferrous scrap trading, but specialized in downstream semi-finished copper products rather than the full scrap metal trading and ELV recycling model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scholzrecycling

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Scholz Recycling