Through four generations and more than 80 years of company history, the company’s growth in the past 20 years is a testament to the leadership of third-generation recycler Robert Slesnick and his sons Brian and Scott, who represent the fourth generation piloting the family business. Although its past has included metals recycling and its present and future includes plastics recycling, the story of S. Slesnick Co. is most heavily written on paper.The Slesnick name has been associated with recycling in Canton since 1924, when Barney Slesnick started collecting recyclable metals, paper and rags. Barney’s son Sidney, who lived to the age of 95, joined the family business and eventually assumed leadership of it. What they created represents the start of not one but two recycling companies spanning four generations of leadership.Sidney’s sons Robert and Stan began assuming leadership positions in the 1950s, and their attention to managing two different aspects of the business led to a split between metal and paper recycling operations in 1957. Stan assumed ownership of what is now Slesnick Iron & Metal Inc., which is also based in Canton.Robert, and subsequently his sons, Brian and Scott, have focused on paper recycling, leading to several decades of growth and expansion for the company at its location on the edge of Canton’s central business district.Upon graduating from Ohio State University, both Brian and Scott had intriguing offers to work out of state, but chose to join the family business. Slesnick Recycling has firmly established itself both directly as a recycler for large generating customers and also as a processor of choice for hauling firms that run their own collection routes but that do not operate recycling facilities.Through this variety of sources and alliances, Slesnick Recycling has enjoyed growth, with two recycling facilities in Canton and Alliance, Ohio. They currently employ about 60 people that process and ship nearly 15,000 tons of material every month.Slesnick Recycling has been in business for 81 years; we specialize in fiber recycling which consists mainly of cardboard and various grades of paper.  Our recycling services focus is with commercial and manufacturing companies, as they typically generate recyclable materials in large volume.  We also recycle various grades of plastic and polystyrene.Slesnick Recycling maintains its commitment to all its customers by continuing to upgrade equipment and facilities that ensure today’s recycling demands are met.

Our fleet of 24 trucks and 74 trailers supports over 100 different locations.  We provide roll off services as well as hauling services that include rubbish and recycling.  Slesnick Recycling also provides sorting load container services.  We can also spot and switch trailers for recycling customers.  Our elevator trailers can pick up cardboard bales at ground level.  In addition to our own fleet, we work with other companies and contractors.  We also welcome material brought by haulers from throughout the region.We’ve also have added a 100 year-old former railroad warehouse that has provided additional storage space and we  recently purchased another old railroad building for future growth in central Canton. Beyond recycling paper in Canton, S. Slesnick Co. also has diversified by recycling plastic. 

Our main plastic and paper recycling facility is 80,000 square feet which is located in Canton, Ohio.  This facility has shredding sorting, baling and shredding capabilities. Our tractor trailers deliver both paper and plastic to this location, which we sort and bale using a new double ram hydraulic baler. Roll off trucks also deliver and pick up containers used for compacting or collection of fiber materials.  This location has roll splitting and book cutting capabilities which allow quick removal of paper for processing.Product is stored on site until it is ready to be shipped to the recycling mills both located here in the US as well as overseas. We are now able to prepare Styrofoam (polystyrene) for recycling at this facility.