Long Standing Scrap Metal Recycling Business and Real Estate
Business Description
Founded in 1947 and proudly family-owned for three generations, this long-standing scrap metal recycling company has built its reputation on a foundation of trust, fairness, and strong community partnerships. The business operates by purchasing unprocessed metals, expertly sorting and separating them by type and grade, and then reselling them wholesale to a network of long-term buyers. Its success is rooted in loyal customers who value fair pricing, decades-long wholesale relationships, and a reputation for honesty and reliability.
The company recycles a wide variety of items containing metals such as aluminum, brass, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. Common materials purchased include appliances, bicycles, chainsaws, fencing, piping, yard and garden equipment, doors, snowmobiles, and a steady inflow of end-of-life vehicles and trucks. This consistent supply of vehicles presents a significant opportunity for future growth.
Included in the sale are the vehicles and equipment essential to daily operations, providing a new owner with a fully equipped, turnkey business.
Over the years, the company has secured several competitive advantages. It maintains strong partnerships with the University of Maine system, local colleges, and the regional hospital network, providing reliable contracts for waste disposal and recycling. Commercial and industrial partnerships with garages, dealerships, and other businesses ensure a steady inflow of materials. Non-ferrous metals have been sold to a trusted, family-run buyer in New Hampshire for over 40 years, while ferrous metals are sold to local outlets.
The business operates in a market tied to commodity pricing, but its loyal customer base has supported consistent performance through both high and low cycles. With copper and other metals reaching record highs this year, the company is positioned for strong earnings.
This is more than a recycling business—it’s a trusted community partner with decades of goodwill, long-term relationships, and a largely untapped competitive advantage: the ability to sell used automobile parts. The current owner holds a crucial license for this activity, but has not yet fully capitalized on it. Given the very limited competition in Maine, this represents a significant opportunity for a new owner to diversify income, increase profitability, and grow the business beyond its traditional scrap operations.
While the core business of scrap metal recycling is strong, the sale of used auto parts offers a higher-margin revenue stream. Instead of simply crushing and recycling a vehicle for its raw material, a new owner can strategically dismantle it to salvage valuable components. Parts like engines, transmissions, alternators, and body panels can be sold directly to a retail market of mechanics, car enthusiasts, and cost-conscious consumers at a much higher profit than their value as scrap metal.
By expanding the focus to include used auto parts, the company can transform itself from a pure scrap yard into a multi-faceted recycling and salvage operation. This would not only diversify its income but also solidify its unique position in the marketplace.
A new owner can capitalize on this opportunity by:
• Implementing a Focused Dismantling and Salvage Process: Instead of processing all end-of-life vehicles for scrap, a system can be implemented to identify and pull high-demand parts before the vehicle is recycled. This would require an organized inventory system to track and manage available parts, making them easily accessible for sale.
• Creating a Retail Outlet or Online Store: A dedicated sales channel for auto parts—whether it's a physical storefront on-site or an e-commerce platform—would allow the business to reach a wider customer base. An online presence would be particularly effective in reaching mechanics and consumers across the state who are searching for affordable parts, thereby expanding the company's geographical reach.
The company recycles a wide variety of items containing metals such as aluminum, brass, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. Common materials purchased include appliances, bicycles, chainsaws, fencing, piping, yard and garden equipment, doors, snowmobiles, and a steady inflow of end-of-life vehicles and trucks. This consistent supply of vehicles presents a significant opportunity for future growth.
Included in the sale are the vehicles and equipment essential to daily operations, providing a new owner with a fully equipped, turnkey business.
Over the years, the company has secured several competitive advantages. It maintains strong partnerships with the University of Maine system, local colleges, and the regional hospital network, providing reliable contracts for waste disposal and recycling. Commercial and industrial partnerships with garages, dealerships, and other businesses ensure a steady inflow of materials. Non-ferrous metals have been sold to a trusted, family-run buyer in New Hampshire for over 40 years, while ferrous metals are sold to local outlets.
The business operates in a market tied to commodity pricing, but its loyal customer base has supported consistent performance through both high and low cycles. With copper and other metals reaching record highs this year, the company is positioned for strong earnings.
This is more than a recycling business—it’s a trusted community partner with decades of goodwill, long-term relationships, and a largely untapped competitive advantage: the ability to sell used automobile parts. The current owner holds a crucial license for this activity, but has not yet fully capitalized on it. Given the very limited competition in Maine, this represents a significant opportunity for a new owner to diversify income, increase profitability, and grow the business beyond its traditional scrap operations.
While the core business of scrap metal recycling is strong, the sale of used auto parts offers a higher-margin revenue stream. Instead of simply crushing and recycling a vehicle for its raw material, a new owner can strategically dismantle it to salvage valuable components. Parts like engines, transmissions, alternators, and body panels can be sold directly to a retail market of mechanics, car enthusiasts, and cost-conscious consumers at a much higher profit than their value as scrap metal.
By expanding the focus to include used auto parts, the company can transform itself from a pure scrap yard into a multi-faceted recycling and salvage operation. This would not only diversify its income but also solidify its unique position in the marketplace.
A new owner can capitalize on this opportunity by:
• Implementing a Focused Dismantling and Salvage Process: Instead of processing all end-of-life vehicles for scrap, a system can be implemented to identify and pull high-demand parts before the vehicle is recycled. This would require an organized inventory system to track and manage available parts, making them easily accessible for sale.
• Creating a Retail Outlet or Online Store: A dedicated sales channel for auto parts—whether it's a physical storefront on-site or an e-commerce platform—would allow the business to reach a wider customer base. An online presence would be particularly effective in reaching mechanics and consumers across the state who are searching for affordable parts, thereby expanding the company's geographical reach.
About the Business
- Years in Operation
- 78
- Employees
- 3
- Facilities & Assets
- There is a 60 x 42 steel building on a cement pad with an office, three loading docks and two bathrooms. An outside boiler with four Modine heaters provides heat for the shop. They also have a kerosene heater for backup.
There is also a 1993 Fleetwood two bedroom, two bathroom trailer home on site that currently has tenants. The potential buyer can either continue with this rental arrangement or choose to live in the trailer home. - Market Outlook / Competition
- There are five other metal recycling businesses in the region located in Bangor, Brewer, Holden, Hudson and Orrington. Although other metal recycling businesses have either drive over scales to weigh metals or roll-off services many customers prefer to come to this scrap yard. They are an honest, trusted family business with customers that have been selling metals to them since their grandfather owned and operated it.
- Opportunities for Growth
- Drive on scales and roll-off services would double the business income. Automobile parts and sales could also be easily incorporated into this type of business. Marketing can also be expanded to contribute to additional revenue for the business.
They are currently open for business Tuesday through Friday from 7:30AM to 4:00PM and Saturday from 7:30AM to Noon. The new owner could choose for this business to be open again on Monday for additional revenue.
Real Estate
- Owned or Leased
- Owned
- Not included in asking price
- Building Sq. Ft.
- 2,520
About the Sale
- Seller Motivation
- Starting Retirement
- Transition Support
- The current owner/manager plans to stay to train the new owner and introduce customers and buyers for as long as needed. He anticipates it will take two years to fully train the new owner. The new owner will need to secure an annual State of Maine Dealer License and a Wholesale Resale Certificate, which are required to operate this business.
- Financing Options
- SBA & FAME
Listing Info
- ID
- 2262616
- Listing Views
- 1900
Listing ID: 2262616 The information on this listing has been provided by either the seller or a business broker representing the seller. BizQuest has no interest or stake in the sale of this business and has not verified any of the information and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, veracity, or completeness. See our full Terms of Use. Learn how to avoid scams.
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