7.2.6.3Vertical
Metal Scrap & Recycling
Scrap metal dealers and processors recovering ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Market snapshot
These figures describe Recycling & Materials Recovery (7.2.6), the segment that Metal Scrap & Recycling sits within — not Metal Scrap & Recycling on its own.
- Market size
- ~$8B
- Growth
- ~7.2%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
- Companies
- ~1,400
FragmentationConsolidatingEstimate
U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 562920 (materials recovery facilities); much recycling is also embedded within integrated solid-waste operations.
Business model & economics
Revenue model
Processing fees plus recovered-commodity sales
Key economics
- Recurring revenue
- Moderate–High
- EBITDA margin
- Commodity-price- and contamination-sensitive
- Capex intensity
- High
recurring recyclable feedstock
Characteristics
- MRFs turn recyclables into commodity feedstock.
- Sustainability and EPR regulation drive demand.
- Advanced sorting and chemical recycling investment.
M&A deal context
Deal activityModerate
Who’s acquiring
- Solid-waste majors
- Independent recyclers & processors
- Sustainability & circular-economy investors
What’s driving deals
- Recycled-content mandates and EPR regulation.
- Advanced-recycling-technology investment.
- Circular-economy and sustainability demand.
Find Metal Scrap & Recycling acquisition targets
Search Acquisera’s index for companies classified under Metal Scrap & Recycling (7.2.6.3) and build a targeted deal pipeline.
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