Athens Auto Wrecking Inc.

From the time William Alewine and his wife began collecting scrap in a little red wagon in the 1940s, the need for scrap metals has grown. Alewine recognized that need in the area around Athens, Ga., and expanded his business in 1949, purchasing Athens Auto Wrecking and one truck.

In 1968, Alewine relocated the company to Hull, where it has since flourished. AAW, which William's grandson Joe and his wife Kristie purchased from him in 1999, has continued its growth and now employs 25 people at its 28-acre yard.

AAW is not limited by the scope of materials it processes. It handles vehicles and all metals, including steel, stainless steel, iron, lead, aluminum, copper and brass. Today, vehicles and ferrous materials represent the majority of AAW's business.

The company employs portable balers in the removal and processing of vehicles and ferrous materials from scrap yards throughout Georgia. Each week, AAW processes an average of approximately 4 to 5 million pounds of scrap. The company's baling crews processes an average of almost 1.8 million pounds of scrap weekly.

Processing that much scrap is a big job and it requires AAW to invest in equipment that is up to the task. The company employs three Sierra portable balers, which it transports to yards throughout Georgia for automobile baling and removing purposes. Additionally, AAW uses a Newell shredder from Newell Recycling to handle most of its automobile processing.

In addition to the automobile and ferrous and nonferrous metal processing, AAW collects and hauls demolition waste metal through its roll-off container business.