davis recycling

What davis recycling does

Davis Recycling Inc. is a privately held, family-owned recycler founded by Ben Davis and headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. The company purchases catalytic converters, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals, electronic scrap (circuit boards, IC chips), and specialty end-of-life materials including hybrid batteries, EV batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and neodymium magnets. Core processing capability centers on the safe extraction and scientific separation of platinum, palladium, and rhodium from catalytic converter substrates, supported by in-house separation of ferrous and non-ferrous streams prior to downstream sale to refiners and smelters.

The company operates through four distribution channels: walk-in drop-off at its Johnson City facility with on-site weighing and immediate cash payment; regional truck pickup across 11 East Coast states (TN, KY, VA, WV, MD, AR, AL, FL, SC, NC) for bulk volumes; shipping support via UPS/FedEx/USPS for 1-10 converters; and a trailer-swap program that enables continuous supply for high-volume licensed dealers. Pricing is market-based, tracked hourly against national PGM benchmarks, with no fixed rates disclosed.

Davis Recycling serves a diversified customer base spanning individuals, muffler shops, auto parts yards, recycling yards, and licensed dealers. It is actively engaged with TSRA, ISRI Southeast Chapter, ISRI, ARA, and IPMI at state, regional, and federal levels, advocating for catalytic converter anti-theft legislation and codifying KYC and AML documentation standards across the scrap recycling industry.

Name

davis recycling

Legal name

Davis Recycling Inc.

Website

https://davisrecyclinginc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Davis Recycling is a family-owned, Johnson City, Tennessee-based buyer of catalytic converters, scrap metal, electronic scrap, and specialty end-of-life materials (EV batteries, hybrid batteries, fuel cells, magnets), serving individuals, muffler shops, auto parts yards, recycling yards, and licensed dealers across the U.S. East Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catalytic Converter and Scrap Metal Recycling

NAICS

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

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Catalytic Converter Recycling & Precious Metals Recovery (PGM) (EUAIAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Catalyst & Precious Metal Scrap Recycling (Auto Catalysts, Refinery/Petrochemical Catalysts) (IMAKAMAI), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Catalytic converter recycling
• Scrap metal recycling
• Electronic scrap recycling
• Non-ferrous metals recycling
• Precious metal extraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Catalytic Converter Purchasing: Davis Recycling purchases catalytic converters from individuals and businesses, paying cash based on the precious metal content (platinum, palladium, rhodium) and current market prices. Value varies by size, age, type and daily market prices. The company generates revenue by processing and refining the extracted precious metals.
2. Scrap Metal Purchasing: Purchases various types of scrap metal including ferrous metals (steel, iron) and non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, zinc). Revenue generated through processing and selling separated metals to secondary smelters and refiners.
3. Electronic Scrap Purchasing: Buys electronic scrap including circuit boards with gold plated connections, IC chips, processors, memory chips, resistors containing silver and palladium. Revenue derived from precious metal extraction from electronic components.
4. Alternative Material Purchasing: Purchases hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid batteries, EV batteries, hard drive magnets, and neodymium magnets. Revenue generated from material recovery and recycling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Davis Recycling buys catalytic converters, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals, electronic scrap, and specialty materials (EV batteries, hybrid batteries, fuel cells, neodymium magnets) from individuals and businesses. The company pays cash based on precious metal content (platinum, palladium, rhodium) and current market prices, then extracts and separates metals for resale to refiners and smelters. Services include in-person drop-off at Johnson City, TN, regional pickup across 11 East Coast states, and shipping logistics for smaller quantities.

Product overview

Davis Recycling operates as a full-service catalytic converter and scrap metal buyer with a portfolio of interconnected recycling services. The core offerings include catalytic converter recycling (extracting platinum, palladium, and rhodium from converter substrates), scrap metal recycling (ferrous and non-ferrous), electronic scrap recycling (circuit boards with precious metals), and specialty materials recycling (EV batteries, hybrid batteries, fuel cells, magnets). These are supported by service modules including regional pickup (East Coast states), shipping coordination (UPS/FedEx/USPS), trailer swap logistics, and on-site drop-off with weighing and payment. The company serves diverse customer segments including individuals, muffler shops, auto parts yards, recycling yards, and licensed dealers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catalytic Converter Recycling Purchase of catalytic converters from individuals and licensed dealers, with precious metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium) extracted and separated from converter substrates for resale to refiners.
• Scrap Metal Recycling Purchase and processing of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals including aluminum, copper, brass, wheels, radiators, starters, alternators, automotive cast, cans, transmissions, and motors, with metals separated prior to resale to improve customer payouts.
• Electronic Scrap Recycling Purchase of electronic scrap containing precious metals, including computer circuit boards with gold-plated connections, IC chips, resistors, and components containing silver and palladium.
• Non-Ferrous Metals Recycling Purchase of non-ferrous metals including aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and zinc, separated prior to recycling to provide better prices for customers.
• Specialty Materials Recycling Purchase of hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid batteries, EV batteries, hard drive magnets, and neodymium magnets for material recovery and recycling.
• Regional Pickup Service Truck pickup service for bulk quantities (10+ converters) of converters, scrap metal, non-ferrous metals, and electronic scrap across TN, KY, VA, WV, MD, AR, AL, FL, SC, and NC, with drivers equipped to weigh, prep, and load materials on-site.
• Trailer Swap Service On-site trailer placement for high-volume dealers, with full trailers picked up and swapped for empty ones to maintain continuous customer operations.
• Drop-Off and Shipping Service In-person drop-off at Johnson City, TN with on-site scale for weighing, sorting, and immediate cash payment, plus shipping logistics support for 1-10 converters via UPS, FedEx, and USPS for licensed entities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Offer best prices found nationally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TSRA (Tennessee Scrap Recyclers Association)coreOthersDavis Recycling is engaged with TSRA at the state level to work with law enforcement and legislatures on catalytic converter regulations and anti-theft measures. TSRA is a state-level industry association for scrap recyclers in Tennessee.
• ISRI Southeast ChaptercoreOthersRegional engagement with ISRI Southeast Chapter, part of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, for regional advocacy and best practices in catalytic converter recycling.
• ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries)coreOthersFederal-level engagement with ISRI, the world's largest scrap recycling industry trade association, for advocacy, best practices development, and regulatory compliance regarding catalytic converter recycling.
• ARA (Automotive Recyclers Association)coreOthersFederal-level partnership with ARA to work on laws and regulations for catalytic converter recycling, including anti-theft measures and industry best practices.
• IPMI (International Precious Metals Institute)coreOthersFederal-level engagement with IPMI for expertise on precious metals trading, pricing, and regulatory matters related to platinum, palladium, and rhodium from catalytic converters.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heraeus Precious Metals: Global precious metals refiner with autocatalyst and electronic scrap recycling capabilities. Comparable as a downstream refiner competing to buy the converter and e-scrap material Davis processes.
• Johnson Matthey: Global specialty chemicals and precious metals company with a PGM refining and autocatalyst recycling arm. Comparable as a downstream refiner that purchases PGM-bearing scrap, including catalytic converter material.
• Glencore Recycling (PGM): Global commodities trader with dedicated precious metals and autocatalyst recycling operations. Comparable as a downstream buyer of PGM-bearing scrap that competes on refining economics with Davis's supplier flow.
• Umicore: Global precious metals refiner and catalyst producer with a dedicated recycling business for spent automotive catalysts. Comparable on the downstream refining side for the PGM-bearing material Davis sells.
• Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel): One of the largest North American ferrous and non-ferrous scrap recyclers, operating a coast-to-coast network of metal recycling facilities. Directly comparable to Davis as a competing buyer of scrap metal, and indirectly comparable on catalytic converter and non-ferrous flows at much greater scale.

Others

• LKQ Corporation: Large automotive parts recycler and salvage operator with a national yard network. Comparable through its auto parts yard channel that both supplies catalytic converters and competes for end-of-life vehicle material.

Direct peers

• Metalico: Regional scrap metal recycler focused on ferrous and non-ferrous metals with processing yards across multiple states. Comparable operating model and customer base in non-ferrous and catalytic converter-adjacent scrap.
• Cohen Recycling: Mid-sized regional scrap metal and non-ferrous recycler in the U.S. Southeast. Comparable mid-market buyer of ferrous/non-ferrous scrap and catalytic converter-adjacent material competing for similar supplier relationships in Davis's geography.
• Trademark Metals Recycling: Multi-location scrap metal recycler with East Coast and Southeast U.S. presence buying ferrous and non-ferrous metals from industrial and consumer suppliers. Comparable competitor for scrap metal volumes.
• Piedmont National: Specialized buyer and processor of catalytic converters and PGM-bearing scrap in the U.S. Southeast. Highly comparable as a direct competitor buying the same converter/e-scrap streams from muffler shops, auto parts yards, and licensed dealers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 davis recycling