Lowenstein Scrap Metal has been reducing industry's carbon footprint since long before the phrase was first coined. The company has emerged as a leader in the scrap metal recycling industry. And, like all good stories, the best place to start is at the beginning. To know us is to know our founder, Ernie Lowenstein. He is a testament to the mettle (excuse the pun) required to take an idea and grow it into a successful, environmentally sound business.

Our Founder, Ernie Lowenstein

In 1940 Ernie emigrated from Germany to America, where he found work in a scrap metal yard. For four years he learned the business from the ground up. It was then that his entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and he realized this is what he wanted to do; to create and build a scrap metal company that was better, cleaner, quicker and more efficient at removing salvageable metal by-products.

The year was 1944. It was the year Lowenstein Scrap Metal Services began its humble beginnings. Working off a handshake with customers and his station wagon as transport, Ernie knew he was on the right track. His reputation for customer care and integrity soon had him providing scrap metal removal services to companies and residences all over Orange County and Los Angeles. It was time to grow again.

Dave Lowenstein, an Expert on Scrap Metals

Like many self-starters, Ernie brought his son Dave into the fold. From a very young age, Dave was a quick study of all things scrap metal. He learned not only how to operate the lift-gate and do odd jobs around the scrap yard, but also became an expert on metals and the industry as a whole. Before long he was driving his own truck (by this time the station wagon had long since been retired). Clearly metal was in Dave's blood too; he acquired the company from his dad, Ernie, in 1978.

How Lowenstein Scrap Metal Has Grown

That one station wagon is now 5-truck fleet. Our service areas have grown dramatically as well. In addition to San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties in Southern California, we now also provide mobile scrap metal services in Lake Havasu, the Mohave Valley, Bullhead City, Kingman and surrounding areas in Arizona, St. George, Utah and the Las Vegas area of Nevada. Lowenstein Scrap Metal Services now services nearly 400 regular customers, including many who shared that original handshake with Ernie decades ago. Due to our exceptional customer service we have grown over 20% in the last two years.

In addition to a much larger staff, wider service area, more trucks and containers, the company name itself has also grown to include the word "team." The word is small, but holds several meanings. In addition to a nod to Dave's love of racing, it also epitomizes the environmental contributions made by both Team Lowenstein Scrap Metal Services and the companies they service. It is, in part, this mutual teamwork that has made steel the most recycled material in the U.S.

Customer Care is Still the Number One Priority

Ernie's original philosoply is still the Team Lowenstein mission statement. His goal was a simple one: take care of your customers and they'll remain loyal. Do it better than anyone else. Do it right. No matter how big we get, we never lose sight of that.

With the teamwork of our staff and customers, our mission is still simple:

• Clean it up
• Recycle
• Reuse
• Protect our nation's resources
• Maintain our equipment
• Provide clean trucks, containers and drivers
• Have respect for our waste products
• And, yes, make a buck doing it

Contact :

2835 La Mirada Drive Suite B, Vista, California 92081 - SAN DIEGO