Looking At Copper In A Whole New Light

#1 Copper. A hot commodity in the worlds of both recycling and finance.

Copper is certainly one of the most favoured commodities that our customers like to trade with us. At current prices of around $3.25/lb for millberry (brite, copper wire) and $3.10/lb for no 1 copper even a small amount of weight adds up very quickly. This is particularly handy at this time of year and in fact, many people will accumulate copper material and sell it to us in time to coincide with the gift giving season that is now upon us.

Steel…The True Superman of Metals

You might be surprised to learn that steel is the most widely used and most recycled metal on the planet. To give you some idea of the scope, more steel is recycled in the U.S. each year than paper, plastic, aluminum and glass combined.

Within our economy, the steel industry clearly plays a significant role.  Statistics for 2010 indicate that, in Canada, we produced 13 million tons of steel and sold more than 12 billion dollars of product of which more than 6 billion dollars worth was exported. The industry also directly employs 25,000 people and has made capital investments of 2 billion dollars since 2005.

Electronics…The Newest Frontier For Recycling

As we have intensified our efforts to collect end-of-life electronics, we have marveled at the vast array of equipment that has been packed away in basements, warehouses and storage facilities all over the GTA. Word processors, typewriters, black and white televisions, stereo and high fidelity equipment, computers, beepers, telecommunications equipment, printers and other peripherals, clunky portable phones that weren’t very smart and the list goes on.

The amazing thing about all this ‘stuff’ is that when they were introduced to the world they were all applauded and widely accepted as true cutting edge technologies.

End-of-life electronics sorting and dismantling at our Oakville warehouse.

Urban Mining For Gold

As we continue to collect more and more electronics at our Mississauga and Oakville locations, we increasingly find ourselves addressing our customers’ curiosity about the nature and extent of the precious metals that they understand are contained in these electronics, particularly gold.

The Rich History Of Gold

Any deep discussion about gold is bound to be a complicated one since it has been in use for at least the past 6,000 years for a variety of purposes, and also because humans have strong emotional ties to gold. The real question here, however, is motivated by the high value of gold today as it relates to its use in electronics and that is why our customers are asking us about it.

Recycling…Not the Oldest Profession, But Certainly Right Up There.

Recycling has been around for a quite a while. We know this because archeologists have discovered that in periods when resources were scarce they find less waste at archeological sites. In fact, researchers suggest that recycling may date back as far as 400 BC. They also suggest that the Romans were active in recycling. Plato is often cited as a strong advocate.

At some time in the last two thousand years, the clever local inhabitants of Venosa in Italy started recycling the marble from their demolished ancient monuments and using it for paving stones.

Many Kinds of Recycling

The Fine Art of Zigging When The World Is Zagging.

What is it about October that seems to bring out the worst in the financial landscape?

The volatility in the markets has continued in force this week. At the time we are writing this blog, the  price of metals has taken a significant beating, including copper which has fallen about 25% over the last three weeks alone. Additionally, the Canadian dollar has been driven down about 10% against the U.S. currency since its peak in July and the Toronto Stock Exchange, with its heavy exposure to commodities, has dropped about 20% as the “bears” have come roaring back. Forecasters around the globe are busy re-forecasting economic growth and other important indicators.

We’re Proud To Be Adding Oakville To Our Community Based Business Model.

We’re very pleased to announce that we will be opening a new location in Oakville, Ontario later this month. This is an exciting project for us, as it will make it more convenient for all our Oakville based customers (individuals,  trades and industry) and, more importantly, it will strengthen our efforts to become a truly community-based service company.

Oakville is the ideal Canadian city, with a wonderful mix of old and new, a fabulous waterfront and a strong industrial and business base.

Oakville Is One Of Canada’s Most Desirable Cities.

Scrap Metal Recycling. As Growing Industries Go, It’s Not Too Shabby.

Following the release of new data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) reported last month that the scrap recycling industry is a healthy one.

In the U.S. the industry grew 40 % between 2009 and 2010 adding about 10,000 jobs to an industry that now employs about 113,000 people. Revenues from 130 million metric tons of scrap metal, plastic, glass, textiles, rubber and electronics were more than $77 billion U.S as the industry provided raw material for consumers in the United States and more than 155 countries around the world. It contributed nearly $30 billion U.S. in export sales alone.

Lead Acid Batteries – One Of Our Biggest Recycling Success Stories

One of the best kept secrets with respect to all of the various recycling programs in effect is the absolute success of lead acid battery recycling. More than 97% of all battery lead is recycled making lead acid batteries the most highly recycled consumer product.

19^th Century Technology – 21^st Century Utility

The lead acid battery has been around for a while. It was discovered in 1859 by a French physicist and is the oldest type of rechargeable battery. With a high power to weight ratio and a cost that is economical, lead acid batteries have provided a practical and efficient power solution for many different applications.

Information Technology Catches Up With Scrap Metal Recycling…And It’s All Good.

It is only within recent memory that information technology on any comprehensive scale crept into the scrap metal industry. It was always just paper, a handshake and your word. While a handshake and our word are still of critical importance,  the arrival of a new generation of professional owners has brought with it advanced and leading edge technology in all aspects of operations.

Point Of Scale Management System