Columbus Recycling

From our beginnings as a single scrap yard in the 1950s to our position as one of the leading independent recycling operations in the Southeastern United States, Columbus Recycling has focused on providing the most dependable and principled service possible.  Our commitment to “always do the right thing”, is supported by key operational strategies that benefit both buyers and sellers:

Stable and Reliable Company

• We have been in business for more than 60 years and are stronger today than at any point in our history.
• Our long track record of growth and profitability – through both good and bad economic times – provides a dependable foundation for our customers and consumers. 
• You can depend on Columbus Recycling

Efficient Operations

• Our unique combination of scale, experience and capability enables us to analyze, transport, and process scrap in an efficient and cost effective manner.  
• We have locations in close proximity to numerous highway, rail and barge transportation alternatives.
• As a partnership focused organization, we share these efficiency savings with our customers.
• You will save money with Columbus Recycling

Best-in-Class Payment Terms

• Our balance sheet is strong and allows us to extend flexibility to our business partners.  
• We can tailor payment terms to fit specific needs, including expedited payment that is among the fastest in the industry.
• You will be paid on time, every time by Columbus Recycling

 Investment in the Future

• By consistently reinvesting in growth we are able to provide the most advanced equipment for collecting and processing scrap.
• Columbus Recycling makes it possible to reach increasingly precise specifications and standards.  
• You are the key priority of Columbus Recycling 

OUR STORY

Columbus Recycling has been providing dependable service in the scrap recycling business for over half a century.  Founded as a single scrap yard in 1956 by Henry Weiss, the company has become one of the Southeast’s leading independent metal recyclers, with five locations in Mississippi and Tennessee:

• Columbus Recycling Columbus - Columbus, MS
• Columbus Recycling Iuka - Iuka, MS
• Columbus Recycling Meridian - Meridian, MS
• Columbus Recycling Chattanooga - Chattanooga, TN
• Columbus Recycling Memphis - Memphis, TN

We purchase scrap material from industrial manufacturers that range in size from sole proprietorships to Fortune 50 companies. We also purchase scrap material from individuals and small-haul recyclers.   We then process the scrap – which includes cleaning, sorting, compacting, baling, shearing and bundling – and sell the material to foundries, mills and steel processing facilities where it is recycled into new products.   Our process helps the environment and supports domestic manufacturing and production.   

In 2014, the company changed its name from Columbus Scrap Materials to Columbus Recycling to reflect our expanding presence in the Southeast, growing environmental consciousness and alignment with global sustainability objectives. 

The company was named U.S. Scrap Company of the Year for 2014 & 2015 by AMM.

Under the leadership of Gregg Rader – the son-in-law of our founder – Columbus Recycling was named the 2014 & 2015 Scrap Company of the Year by American Metal Market.

TIMELINE:

1956 – Columbus Scrap Material founded by Henry Weiss

1981 – Ms. Nelda Umfress current CRC COO, joins the company

1991 – Gregg Rader current CRC CEO, joins as Vice President of Operations

2000 – CSM acquires its 2nd yard, the assets of Southern Scrap of Meridian (Meridian, MS)

2006 – CSM acquires its 3rd yard, the assets of Tri-State Recycling (Iuka, MS) 

2010 – CSM acquires its 4th yard, the assets of Memphis Industrial Scrap Recycling (Memphis, TN)

2013 - CSM acquires its 5th yard, the assets of Tennessee Scrap Recycling (Chattanooga, TN)

2014 – CSM partners with Trivest Partners; company name and structure changes to Columbus Recycling Corporation (CRC)

OUR VALUES

At Columbus Recycling, we value our ability to make a positive economic and environmental impact on behalf of our customers, consumers and communities. 

There are several important questions we continually ask ourselves:

How can we increase the value we provide for our customers and consumers?

• Our growth has been fueled by entrepreneurial innovation that saves our customers time and trouble, or makes them more money or increasingly productive.  We strive to create a culture where every employee is inspired to contribute ideas that support this goal.

How can we improve the future of our communities?

• We recognize that as companies grow, they are increasingly tied to their local communities, and their communities are increasingly dependent on them.  We therefore:
  • Provide excellent compensation/benefits to our employees, including fully paid medical insurance
  • Seek diversity in our employee base 
  • Provide corporate sponsorship of community organizations and events 
  • Encourage individual participation in community organizations and events

How can we make our work sites safer for our customers and employees?

• Nothing takes precedence over our determination to get employees home safely at the end of each day.  We are diligent about complying with OSHA standards at all sites, and maintain ongoing safety training programs for all job functions. 

How can we contribute more to environmental health?

• The recycling industry plays a critical role in the overall environmental health of our society.  Simply put, the better we do our job, the less damage is done to our planet.  To that end, we have an active Environmental Compliance initiative at each of our facilities, which includes training, regular inspection and continuous improvement programs.  We are proud of our record of regulatory compliance and spotless EPA record.  Learn more about Our Environmental Commitment. 

The foundation of everything we do at Columbus Recycling is a simple concept that guides our actions:  “Always do the right thing”. 

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Few companies have as much opportunity to positively impact the environment as we do.  Not only do we reroute metals from landfills to productive uses, but we also conserve significant natural resources and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This contribution is the primary reason the U.S. recycling industry is growing nearly 10% per year.  

Learn more about the environmental impact of recycling.

While environmental compliance is core to our operations, we are also committed to expanding our impact, both internally and with our customers and consumers.  We continually encourage ideas that extend our ability to provide environmental value from scrap metal and other recyclables.

WHAT WE BUY

Columbus Recycling buys ferrous, non-ferrous and specialty alloy scrap metals and other recyclables from commercial and industrial businesses, as well as the general public.

FERROUS

Steel is the most widely recycled metal in the world. Each year, tons and tons of steel scrap are consumed by steel mills and foundries. This metal is smelted and then sold to manufacturers as raw material for new manufactured goods.

For the past five decades, Columbus Recycling has been a major supplier to the steel industry.

Cast Iron (all grades)

Angle iron
Borings
Machine cast
Turnings
Wrought iron
Steel (all grades)

Busheling
Borings
Heavy melt
Mixed steel
Plate & Structural
Rail & OTM
Rebar
Turnings
Appliances

Air conditioning compressors - free of oil
Dryers
Hot water heaters
Stoves
Refrigerators
Washing machines

Automobiles

Drums
Motor blocks - free of oil
Rims
Rotors
Transmissions
Others

Aerosol cans - with holes
Axels
Bicycles
Construction scrap
Farm equipment
Machine shop turnings
Frames
Industrial metals
Metal banding
Metal cabinets
Metal fencing
Metal lawn furniture
Metal roofing
Sheet metal
Steel drums - free of fluid
Trailers
Tin

NON FERROUS

Columbus Recycling can process and recycle most types of nonferrous metal. A large portion of our nonferrous operation involves aluminum can recycling. Our aluminum can operation handles more than 2,000 pounds of cans per day. Empty aluminum cans are magnetically sorted, inspected, and compressed into 1,000 pound bales for shipment to an aluminum smelter.

Aluminum (all grades)

Aluminum cans
Aluminum clip
Aluminum extruded
Aluminum rims
Aluminum siding
Aluminum turnings
Extruded aluminum
Brass (all grades)

Red brass
Yellow brass
Brass turnings
Copper (all grades)

#1 & #2 copper 
Bare bright copper
Copper sheet 
Catalytic Converters
Clean sheet
Cocks and faucets
Coils
Electric motor
Electric parts
Electric wiring
Insulated wiring
Irony aluminum
Lead
Lead-acid batteries
Radiators

STAINLESS AND ALLOYS

Columbus Recycling uses industry leading tools and innovative technology to evaluate and process your high temperature alloys. Each load we receive is carefully inspected and properly identified using our XRF analyzer to determine the grade and or sub grade of your material.

Alloys
Nickel (all grades)
Sinks
Stainless steel (all grades)
Stainless turnings
Titanium (all grades)
Tool steels & carbide
Zinc (all grades)
Scrap Storage and Pickup

If you produce a regular supply of scrap, Columbus Recycling can provide onsite storage containers and collect material at intervals that suit your needs. We can also arrange for the collection and transportation of bulk scrap pick-ups.

WHAT WE DON'T BUY

Columbus Recycling works hard to accommodate all of our customers’ needs, but we cannot buy the following materials:

Closed containers such as fuels/gas tanks, beer kegs,
Enclosed drums or tanks with no 2′ x 2′ hole
Computer or electronics scrap such as TVs, microwaves, monitors, keyboards, etc.
Flammable materials – ammunition or explosives
Hazardous waste or chemicals
Liquids or fluids of any kind
Paint cans
Radioactive materials
Rubber, asphalt, wood or other non-metal materials
Sewer covers
While the aforementioned items are representative of our requirements and conditions, other items that are not listed may or may not be acceptable. In addition, individual Columbus Recycling facilities may have different policies for acceptance of material based on local laws and conditions or facility equipment capabilities. If you have any questions about the specific materials we accept, please contact your local Columbus Recycling facility for information.