Top 10 Companies in the Recycled Copper Industry (2025): Market Leaders Powering the Circular Economy

In Business Insights
December 07, 2025

The Global Recycled Copper Market was valued at USD 60.8 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 85.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is being fueled by global sustainability mandates, escalating demand from the construction and electronics sectors, and the significant energy savings offered by recycling compared to primary copper production.

As the world intensifies its focus on circular economy principles, the spotlight is on the key players who are building efficient supply chains for secondary copper. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Recycled Copper Industry—a mix of global metal giants, specialized recyclers, and processors shaping the future of sustainable metal supply.

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Recycled Copper Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. Aurubis AG

Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany
Key Offering: High-purity cathode copper, copper shapes, rods, and continuous cast shapes from recycled materials

Aurubis is Europe’s largest copper producer and one of the world’s leading copper recyclers. The company operates sophisticated multi-metal recycling plants that process complex raw materials like scrap, residues, and recycling materials to extract copper and precious metals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Recycling over 1 million tons of complex recycling materials annually

  • Targeting carbon-neutral production by 2050

  • Major investments in recycling technology and capacity expansion


9️⃣ 2. Commercial Metals Company (CMC)

Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Recycled copper and copper alloy products for construction and industrial markets

CMC is a leading manufacturer, recycler, and supplier of steel and metal products. Its recycling division operates a network of facilities across the U.S. that process and supply recycled copper and copper-containing materials to various industries.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Diverts millions of tons of metal from landfills annually

  • Advanced scrap processing technologies for maximum metal recovery


8️⃣ 3. Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
Key Offering: Recycled nonferrous metals including copper, aluminum, and zinc

Schnitzer is one of North America’s largest recyclers of scrap metal, with a strong focus on nonferrous metals recovery. Their advanced separation technologies efficiently recover high-purity copper from complex scrap streams.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Processes approximately 500,000 tons of nonferrous scrap annually

  • Committed to the circular economy through metal recycling


7️⃣ 4. Umicore N.V.

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Key Offering: Recycled copper and precious metals from e-waste and industrial residues

Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group with a strong focus on circular economy solutions. The company specializes in recycling complex materials to recover copper along with precious and specialty metals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • World leader in e-waste and automotive catalyst recycling

  • Innovative smelting and hydrometallurgical processes for metal recovery

Download FREE Sample Report:
Recycled Copper Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Kuusakoski Group Oy

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: Comprehensive metal recycling services including copper recovery and refining

Kuusakoski is a leading Scandinavian metal recycling company with operations across Europe. The company specializes in processing end-of-life vehicles, electronics, and industrial scrap to recover copper and other nonferrous metals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Advanced sorting technologies for maximum metal recovery

  • Strong focus on environmental responsibility and circular economy


5️⃣ 6. Sims Metal Management Ltd.

Headquarters: New York, USA (Global); Rye, New York & Sydney, Australia
Key Offering: Global recycling services for ferrous and nonferrous metals including copper

Sims Metal is one of the world’s largest metal recyclers with operations across North America, Australasia, and Europe. The company processes millions of tons of recyclable materials annually, recovering significant quantities of copper.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Global leader in metal recycling with over 250 facilities worldwide

  • Advanced processing technologies for efficient metal recovery


4️⃣ 7. OmniSource, LLC

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Key Offering: Recycled nonferrous metals including copper, aluminum, and brass

As a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Inc., OmniSource is a leading processor and distributor of recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals. The company operates extensive scrap processing facilities across the United States.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Advanced metal sorting and processing capabilities

  • Significant contributor to the circular metal economy in North America


3️⃣ 8. ELG Metals Inc. (formerly Elgin Recycling)

Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: High-quality recycled stainless steel and superalloys containing copper

ELG Metals is a leading processor and global supplier of recycled high-temperature alloys and stainless steel. The company specializes in recycling materials containing copper and other valuable metals from aerospace and industrial applications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Specialized in recycling high-value metal scrap

  • Advanced analytical capabilities for precise metal chemistry control


2️⃣ 9. Pacific Metal Pty Ltd

Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Key Offering: Recycled copper and nonferrous metals for Australian and Asian markets

Pacific Metal is a leading Australian nonferrous metal merchant and processor. The company sources, processes, and supplies recycled copper and copper alloys to domestic and international markets.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Key player in Australia’s circular metal economy

  • Strategic partnerships with Asian copper consumers

Read Full Report:
Recycled Copper Market – View in Detailed Research Report


1️⃣ 10. Aaron Metals

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
Key Offering: Precious metal and copper recycling from electronic scrap and industrial waste

Aaron Metals specializes in recycling electronic scrap, industrial catalysts, and other high-value materials to recover copper, precious metals, and specialty metals. The company serves the technology and manufacturing sectors.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Advanced refining processes for maximum metal recovery

  • Focus on recycling materials from high-technology industries


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Recycled Copper Is Bright and Sustainable

The recycled copper market is experiencing a transformative period as circular economy principles become central to global manufacturing. With energy savings of up to 85-90% compared to primary production, recycled copper is becoming increasingly vital for sustainable development across industries.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rising demand for sustainable materials in construction and electronics

  • Government regulations promoting circular economy practices

  • Technological advancements in scrap sorting and processing

  • Growing investment in recycling infrastructure globally

Read Full Report:
Recycled Copper Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only processing millions of tons of copper annually—they’re building the foundation for a sustainable, circular future in metal production.