4th Generation Recycling

4th Generation Recycling (4G) is dedicated to providing our clients the highest level of customer service and maximum recycling revenues.

As one of the nation's premier recyclers, 4G Recycling provides guaranteed on-time service and exceptional value for your recyclables. Our family history in the industry dates back to 1910, and today we are proud to be an international recycling company trading recyclables throughout the world.

Our team of recycling professionals have extensive experience working with numerous industries including printing companies, envelope manufacturers, paper converters, paper mills, folding carton manufacturers, packaging companies, office complexes, distribution centers and plastic generators.

Based on your unique needs, 4th Generation Recycling will design a scrap removal program customized to maximize both your revenues and material handling efficiencies. We pride ourselves on transparency and working with our clients as a strategic partner. Whatever waste removal challenges you face, 4th Generation Recycling is ready to work with your organization to implement world class recycling program.

Company History

4th Generation Recycling is a family owned business that is led today by Brent and Zack Kirstein. 4G's roots date back to 1910 with Phillip Kirstein who had emigrated from the Ukraine to New York. Like most European immigrants that came through Ellis Island, he was poor and uneducated. However he was also a recycling pioneer who recognized an opportunity in handling others' waste. Working with a Horse and Wagon, Phillip would ply the streets of New York in search of textiles, metals, newspapers and other materials for resale. In 1930, Phillip moved the family to New Haven, Connecticut. and his eldest son Abraham started working in the business. Abe innovated the company by purchasing our first baler and by soliciting cardboard from grocery stores as well as working with the local churches and civic organizations to collect newspapers. In 1940, the business was moved to Norwich, Connecticut to be closer to the papermills.

In 1965, Harold Kirstein (3rd Generation) started working in his father's plant during the summer months. At the time we operated an outdoor facility with a pit baler. After graduating from Boston University, Harold moved back to Connecticut in 1973 and subsequently moved the business to Fitchville CT. He installed one of the first High Density HRB Baler in New England in 1975. Over the next 10 years the business grew to 5 plants throughout the East Coast, including Fitchville CT., Newburg NY, Islip NY Charleston SC, and Raleigh NC. Recognizing the importance of Corporate Security, Harold installed a major shredding operation at IBM's Headquarters in upstate New York. Prior to the days of Information Technology, companies printed all of their correspondence. Due to the confidential nature of their waste, IBM thought it prudent to shred 100% of their paper and we worked with 22 of their sites nationally to provide secure document destruction. In 1998 Harold's son's Brent and Zack started working in the business and learned the business from the ground up. Many days were spent working in the plants baling paper and many nights were spent invoicing transactions. Around this time we shifted our primary focus to servicing the printing industry and the business grew to 15 states and 140,000 tons per year.

In May of 2008, the business merged with Greenstar North America to offer our clients access to new International Markets. Serving in their roles as East Coast Vice President and East Coast Sales Manager, Brent and Zack grew the business to 40 states, Mexico and Canada and 360,000 tons per year.

In January of 2012, Brent and Zack left Greenstar and started 4th Generation Recycling (4G). Today 4G is a growing National company handling in excess of 200,000 tons per year of scrap in 24 states. 4G currently employs 20 employees and maintains offices in Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, Pennsylvania and California.

Throughout all of the Kirstein Generations in the Recycling Industry, our commitment to provide quality service and timely payments has never faltered. We are proud to be innovators in a 'Green' industry where success makes the world a better place.