- Albert Bros., Inc.
- 240 East Aurora Street
- P.O Box 1310
- Waterbury, CT 06708
Scrap metal recycling is more than an environmental checkbox—it’s a powerful economic engine and a vital component of America’s sustainable future. In the U.S., the scrap metal industry doesn’t just keep waste out of landfills. It fuels job growth, drives down energy usage, and supports industries as varied as construction, manufacturing, and even aerospace.
Whether you’re a homeowner clearing out your garage or a contractor with daily scrap on hand, here’s why every recycled bolt, can, and cable matters.
According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), scrap recycling contributes a staggering $117 billion to the U.S. economy each year. That includes everything from metal processing and logistics to export operations. Learn more about how scrap metal fuels sustainability across industries.
The U.S. scrap metal industry supports more than 500,000 jobs. That includes yard operators, transporters, metal sorters, and technology-driven roles. At Albert Bros., Inc. in Waterbury, CT, we’re proud to be part of this workforce, creating sustainable jobs for our local community.
These core metals are the foundation of American recycling. Recycling aluminum uses only 5% of the energy required to produce it from raw ore—and can be recycled endlessly. Explore the full list of materials we handle on our Metals and Beyond page.
With about 80 million tons of steel recycled annually, steel remains the most recycled material by volume. From cars to skyscrapers, this metal is central to the U.S. recycling economy.
Source: Steel Recycling Institute
According to The Balance, energy savings from recycling are enormous:
These savings contribute directly to a lower carbon footprint. Learn more about our processing capabilities and how we help drive efficiency at every step.
Each year, the U.S. recycles over 12 million vehicles. Automotive scrap metal—particularly steel, aluminum, and copper—is melted down and reused in new manufacturing, keeping the supply chain sustainable and circular.
Explore the top industries that rely on scrap metal for daily operations.
That’s over 150 million cans daily. An aluminum can recycled today can return to shelves as a new can in just 60 days.
Source: The Aluminum Association
Every year, scrap metal recycling diverts over 135 million metric tons of material from landfills—helping to reduce pollution, lower methane emissions, and save space for truly non-recyclable waste.
Scrap metal is one of the largest export commodities in the U.S., with countries like Turkey, India, and South Korea purchasing vast quantities. This reduces the trade deficit and supports industrial growth abroad.
ISRI estimates that scrap recycling offsets up to 300 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually—equal to removing tens of millions of cars from the road.
That’s right—every ton of steel recycled saves $642 in energy and material costs. Multiply that across industries, and you get billions in economic value preserved each year.
Smartphones, laptops, and other e-waste contain valuable metals like gold, copper, and palladium. Proper e-waste recycling ensures these rare materials aren’t lost forever.
Every year, Americans recycle over 120,000 tons of steel and 2,000 tons of copper from refrigerators and freezers alone.
Right now, the U.S. recycles around 70% of available metals. With better infrastructure and more local support, we can push this number even higher—reducing our dependency on mined materials.
Unlike plastic, metals like aluminum, steel, and copper don’t degrade. That means they can be recycled forever without losing strength or quality.
Scrap metal recycling is essential to reducing waste, conserving energy, and driving the U.S. economy. At Albert Bros., Inc., we’ve spent over 125 years helping Connecticut businesses, tradespeople, and residents recycle responsibly. Whether you have a load of copper wiring or an old appliance, we can help you turn it into value.
Albert Bros., Inc. is the largest privately-owned metal recycler in the Northeast. We buy, process, and sell millions of pounds of scrap metal materials weekly. We reliably service the Northeast and the country through our industrial, retail, and brokerage metal recycling services.
Albert Bros., Inc. is the largest privately-owned metal recycler in the Northeast. We buy, process, and sell millions of pounds of scrap metal materials weekly. We reliably service the Northeast and the country through our industrial, retail, and brokerage metal recycling services.
Albert Bros., Inc. is the largest privately-owned metal recycler in the Northeast. We buy, process, and sell millions of pounds of scrap metal materials weekly. We reliably service the Northeast and the country through our industrial, retail, and brokerage metal recycling services.
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