Creating a better, more sustainable future is what drives us.
Industrial sustainability solutions are more than recycling. They exist at the intersection of waste optimization, value recovery, compliance support, environmental responsibility and supply chain integration. Shapiro's suite of services covers every major material category and waste stream, including:
By integrating these services, we design programs that hold up in real operating environments and continue to perform as production volumes change.
Core Capabilities
Industrial Waste Solutions That Reduce Risk and Cost
Shapiro develops targeted waste management systems that go beyond collection, separation and disposal. We make solutions that turn liability into value. Our industrial waste solutions are adjusted to facility characteristics and production realities:
Comprehensive waste audit and characterization
Custom recycling and reuse strategies at scale
Diversion planning focused on cost efficiency
Compliance and documentation support
Our team can help you create sustainable recycling programs that improve operational flow and also reduce risk.
Industrial Recycling Services for Every Material Stream
At the foundation of any sustainability effort is responsible industrial recycling, and Shapiro's programs are built on decades of experience handling complex materials. Our recycling services include, but are not limited to:
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Specialty alloy recovery
Plastics and polymer streams
Mixed industrial recyclables through specialty partners
Automated classification and sorting
Master Alloys & RSI
One of the most sophisticated aspects of Shapiro's work is the Master Alloys and Recycled Secondary Ingot (RSI) program. These services are designed for manufacturers who want quality recycled content that meets stringent production specifications:
Custom alloy formulations using reclaimed feedstocks
Up to 99% recovery on select alloy components
Reduced raw material risk and supply variability
Enhanced supply chain sustainability and cost predictability
Closed Loop Recycling Programs That Keep Materials in Play
An all-important part of our umbrella offering is closed loop recycling, which guarantees that recyclable input materials are returned directly into the production cycle whenever possible. This approach drives greater reuse and lowers dependency on new raw materials.
Sustainability Dashboard
Actionable data is essential to progress. Shapiro's Sustainability Dashboard provides clients with centralized access to operational, environmental, and compliance data. This platform helps you:
Track materials by weight, grade, and value
Measure landfill diversion and recovery performance
Analyze carbon impact and Scope 3 emissions
Simplify multi-site reporting and auditing processes
Environmental End‑of‑Life Product Destruction
Shapiro delivers environmentally responsible product destruction services that protect your brand and keep materials out of landfills. Our product destruction services:
- Prevent defective, unsafe or obsolete products from re-entering the market
- Secure destruction and transportation
- Maximize recycling and material recovery
- Provide transparent environmental reporting on Sustainability Dashboard
- Include dedicated project management
- Provide video or photo documentation
- Include Certificate of Destruction for all projects
Empower a Bright, Green Future
Circular by Shapiro helps you transform waste into valuable resources, lowering your carbon footprint and creating new revenue streams. We combine advanced analytics, custom reporting, and responsible sourcing to give you a transparent, measurable recycling program that continuously evolves with your needs. Partner with us to develop a more resilient, profitable, and sustainable future.
Discover how Shapiro and partners turn sustainability strategy into scalable action.
In our Circular Strategies Podcast, Bob Alvarez shares how Shapiro's Closed Loop programs help manufacturers reduce waste, drive efficiency, and make the planet better together.
Why Our Approach Works
How Our Clients Benefit from Shapiro’s Sustainability Services that Unite Material Control, Operational Reliability, and Long-Term Environmental Planning
Proven Expertise
With over a century of leadership in the scrap and recycling industry, we understand how materials behave in real industrial settings, from machining chips and turnings to mixed industrial byproducts.
Integrated Programs
Rather than siloing recycling from waste management or from sustainability reporting, our services work together. A closed loop system, for example, practically reinforces sustainability reporting and vice versa.
Custom Solutions
Every facility is different. We design programs that match your material types, production volumes, operational constraints and compliance benchmarks.
Operational Transparency
From real-time dashboards to detailed reporting, we provide the tools and metrics needed for internal management and external stakeholder communication.
Regulatory Compliance
We make sure all programs meet federal, state, and local regulations, reducing risk and liability.
Scalable Operations
Our systems are designed to grow with your facility, accommodating changes in volume, material mix or operational scope.
As a team, we try to make Shapiro the best place to work for and the best place to work with. We're a 120+ year old company that looks at everything as though we were a startup. New ideas and processes are happening all the time and they are all driven by our commitment to our customers and each other.
Bo Howard
VP of New Business Development
Materials and Waste Streams We Manage
Shapiro's capabilities cover nearly every industrial waste category:
Scrap metal of all grades and compositions
Process residues and manufacturing off-cuts
Plastic waste and polymer residuals
End-of-life equipment and machinery via asset recovery or resale
Fluid-contaminated turnings and chips with fluid recovery solutions
We coordinate across material classes, so we provide a single, streamlined point of accountability for industrial waste and recycling performance.
Strategic Locations and Operational Reach
Shapiro supports clients through facilities and teams across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including Shapiro Metals Dickson TN, Shapiro Metals St Louis MO and Shapiro Metals Fitzgerald GA, among others. These regional hubs enhance logistical efficiency and guarantee rapid response for service needs, pickup coordination, and on-site support. We combine regional coverage with national capacity in order to deliver dependable programs that fit your operational footprint.
Partnering with Shapiro to Advance Sustainability
Industrial sustainability is not a single project; it is an ongoing, integrated part of how companies drive performance and mitigate risk.
Our goal is to provide your sustainability program is:
Operationally sound
Technically accurate
Cost-effective
Aligned with your business strategy
Whether you are mapping your first recycling program, seeking a sustainable waste management platform for multi-site operations, or turning waste into a strategic asset, Shapiro delivers professional execution and measurable progress.
Want to know more?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between recycled material and raw material?
Raw material, often called virgin or primary material, is extracted and refined from natural resources such as ore. Recycled material is recovered from scrap and waste, then processed so it can be used again in manufacturing. Aluminum shows the difference clearly. Recycling aluminum uses only 5% of the energy of primary production, and aluminum can be recycled infinitely without losing its properties. Master Alloys by Shapiro turns recycled aluminum scrap into Remelt Secondary Ingot (RSI) and custom alloys that manufacturers use in place of virgin primary aluminum.
How do I know which recycling solution is right for my facility?
The right recycling solution depends on your waste streams, volumes, number of facilities, and sustainability goals. Shapiro starts with a waste audit to see what your facility generates and where the value is. From there, we match you with the right part of the Shapiro family:
- Shapiro industrial recycling for scrap metal, multi-material recycling, and complex project work
- Circular by Shapiro for zero-waste-to-landfill programs across multiple locations
- Master Alloys by Shapiro for manufacturers that want recycled aluminum alloys as a raw material
How can my company achieve effective waste reduction?
Effective waste reduction starts with understanding your materials and processes. Shapiro works with manufacturers to reduce unnecessary disposal, improve recycling, and recover value from materials they're currently paying to haul away. For an HVAC manufacturer in Georgia, recycling 100 tons of cardboard, installing compactors, and adding a waste-to-energy program saved $150,000 and earned a 2020 Global Sustainability Award.
What type of waste management services does Shapiro provide?
Shapiro provides industrial recycling and waste management services for manufacturers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. These include:
- ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal recycling
- multi-material recycling programs for cardboard, wood, plastics, and fluids
- waste audits, trash compactors, and waste-to-energy programs
- fluid and coolant recovery systems
- product destruction, demolition, and end-of-life asset recycling
For multi-location manufacturers, Circular by Shapiro builds consistent zero-waste-to-landfill programs across every facility. Shapiro does not handle hazardous waste.
How can industrial companies implement environmental solutions?
Industrial companies implement environmental solutions most effectively when they treat them as part of daily operations, not a side project. Start with a waste audit to identify every material stream. Then set measurable goals and put the right equipment in place, such as compactors or fluid recovery systems. Train your team on material sorting, and track results over time. Shapiro's Sustainability Dashboard gives clients up-to-date data on what they've shipped and recovered, so progress is easy to measure and report.
Why are sustainable practices important for manufacturers?
Sustainable practices lower operating costs, reduce waste, and support corporate ESG goals. The business case is growing: 88% of companies view sustainability as a long-term value creation opportunity, according to Morgan Stanley's Sustainable Signals 2025 report. In a Workiva survey (2025 Executive Benchmark on Integrated Reporting), 97% of executives agreed that a strong sustainability reporting program will give them a competitive advantage within two years. Shapiro helps manufacturers turn those goals into measurable results through recycling, material recovery, and data-driven reporting.
What materials are considered recyclable material?
Shapiro recycles a wide range of industrial materials, including:
- metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, nickel alloy, zinc, steel, and titanium
- cardboard
- wood
- plastics
- industrial fluids and coolant
- general industrial waste
Shapiro evaluates each facility's material streams to find the best recovery path for each one. Shapiro does not handle hazardous waste.
What innovative solutions does Shapiro offer for industrial waste?
Shapiro combines 120 years of commodity expertise with a startup mindset, and our innovations include:
- The Sustainability Dashboard, which gives clients up-to-date visibility into what they've shipped and what they're owed.
- Independent moisture testing, which recovered $33,000 in annual revenue for one aluminum founder
- Fluid and coolant recovery systems, which recapture fluids instead of paying to dispose of them.
- Circular by Shapiro smart compactors, which use sensor-based pickup scheduling.
- Large-scale project work, such as recovering five miles of obsolete subsea umbilical cable with maximized landfill diversion.
Why is a waste audit important for industrial operations?
A waste audit identifies every material stream in your facility, measures how much of each you generate, and shows where you're losing value. At Shapiro, it often starts by checking the trash cans on the plant floor, where recyclable and revenue-generating materials are commonly thrown away. Shapiro conducts a detailed waste audit before designing any program, so every recommendation is based on your actual data.
How can companies minimize landfill contributions?
Minimizing landfill contributions takes a combination of recycling, material recovery, and better separation at the source. Shapiro's integrated recycling programs can achieve up to 92% landfill diversion. For manufacturers with multiple plants, Circular by Shapiro builds zero-waste-to-landfill programs that run consistently across every facility under one vendor.
What is the best way to handle landfill waste responsibly?
The most responsible way to handle landfill waste is to shrink it first, then manage what remains efficiently. Separating and recycling recoverable materials reduces the volume headed to landfill. Trash compactors reduce pickup frequency and hauling costs. Waste-to-energy programs convert non-recyclable trash into energy instead of burying it.
How does Shapiro support renewable energy initiatives?
Shapiro supports renewable energy initiatives through waste-to-energy programs that convert non-recyclable trash into usable power. At one HVAC manufacturer's Vidalia, Georgia facility, Circular by Shapiro converted 131 tons of trash into 71,500 kWh of renewable energy. Recycling also saves energy at the source. Recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy needed for primary production.
What are the best practices for waste disposal in industrial facilities?
Best practices for industrial waste disposal include:
- auditing your waste streams regularly
- separating materials at the source
- training employees on proper sorting
- tracking results with reliable data
- keeping material processing as local as possible
That last practice makes a measurable difference. One localized recycling program cut transport miles by 90%, saved $19,000, and avoided 39.82 tons of CO2.