Top 10 Companies in the Zinc Scrap Market (2025): Industry Leaders Powering Global Recycling

In Business Insights
December 06, 2025


The Global Zinc Scrap Market was valued at USD 12.6 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 16.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.9% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is fueled by the global push for a circular economy, stringent environmental regulations promoting metal recycling, and the significant cost and energy advantages of using secondary zinc over primary production.

As industries worldwide intensify their focus on sustainability and supply chain resilience, the zinc scrap recycling sector has become a cornerstone of the green metals revolution. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Zinc Scrap Industry—global leaders and regional powerhouses who are building efficient collection networks, advancing recycling technologies, and supplying high-quality secondary zinc to critical downstream markets.

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Zinc Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. Sims Metal Management

Headquarters: New York, New York, USA & Sydney, Australia (Dual-listed)
Key Offering: Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Scrap, including Zinc Scrap

Sims Metal Management is one of the world’s largest listed metal recyclers, operating across North America, Australasia, and the UK. The company processes millions of tons of recyclables annually, with a significant stream dedicated to recovering zinc from end-of-life vehicles, industrial scrap, and consumer goods.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050

  • Advanced material recovery facilities (MRFs) enhancing zinc separation efficiency

  • Partnerships with automakers for closed-loop recycling of galvanized steel


9️⃣ 2. OmniSource Corporation

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
Key Offering: Scrap Metal Processing & Recycling, Zinc-bearing Materials

A subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Inc., OmniSource is a leading scrap metal processor and distributor in the United States. The company specializes in sourcing, processing, and supplying zinc scrap from various industrial sources to foundries, mills, and zinc smelters.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Integrated supply chain with parent company’s steel production, utilizing zinc-coated scrap

  • Investment in advanced sorting technologies like X-ray transmission and optical sorting


8️⃣ 3. European Metal Recycling (EMR)

Headquarters: Manchester, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Global Metal Recycling, Zinc Scrap Collection & Processing

EMR is one of the world’s leading metal recyclers, with over 170 sites worldwide. The company has a strong presence in Europe and North America, handling substantial volumes of zinc-containing scrap, particularly from the automotive and construction sectors.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Pioneering electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, recovering zinc and other metals

  • Development of innovative processes for recovering zinc from complex waste streams


7️⃣ 4. Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
Key Offering: Recycled Metal Products, including Zinc-rich Auto Shredder Residue

Schnitzer Steel is a leading manufacturer and exporter of recycled metal products in North America. Its Auto Parts Division and Steel Manufacturing Business generate significant quantities of zinc scrap, which is processed and sold to specialized zinc recyclers and smelters.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Comprehensive environmental management systems at all recycling facilities

  • Focus on reducing the environmental footprint of metal production through recycling

Download FREE Sample Report:
Zinc Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Hanwa Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Non-Ferrous Metal Trading, Zinc Scrap Sourcing & Distribution

Hanwa is a major Japanese trading company with a powerful global network in non-ferrous metals. The company plays a critical role in the global zinc scrap market by sourcing material from around the world and supplying it to zinc smelters and alloy producers, particularly in Asia.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Promoting the use of recycled metals to reduce the carbon footprint of Japanese industry

  • Investing in logistics and quality control to ensure traceability of scrap materials


5️⃣ 6. Commercial Metals Company

Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Steel & Metal Recycling, Zinc from Demolition and Industrial Scrap

Commercial Metals Company (CMC) is a leading vertically integrated steel and metal recycler. Its recycling division collects, processes, and markets ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, including zinc-coated steel and pure zinc components, feeding both its own mills and external customers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Utilizing electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, which efficiently consumes zinc-coated steel scrap

  • Commitment to sustainable operations and resource conservation


4️⃣ 7. Chiho Environmental Group Ltd.

Headquarters: Hong Kong
Key Offering: Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling, Global Zinc Scrap Trading

Chiho Environmental Group is a leading global non-ferrous metal recycling group with operations in Asia, Europe, and North America. The company specializes in recycling a wide range of metals, with a significant focus on sourcing and processing zinc scrap for the Asian market.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Implementation of environmentally sound recycling technologies across its global network

  • Contributing to China’s and Southeast Asia’s circular economy goals


3️⃣ 8. Nucor Corporation

Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Steel Products, Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Scrap Recycling

As North America’s largest steel producer and recycler, Nucor is a major consumer and generator of zinc-bearing scrap. The company’s David J. Joseph Company (DJJ) subsidiary is a prominent scrap broker and processor, managing vast supply chains for zinc-coated steel and other metals.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Steel production is based primarily on recycled scrap, inherently supporting zinc recycling

  • Leader in promoting the economic and environmental benefits of recycling


2️⃣ 9. Cohen

Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
Key Offering: Scrap Metal Processing & Trading

Cohen is a major, family-owned scrap metal processing and trading company with a long history in the industry. The company operates several processing facilities and has extensive expertise in handling and marketing zinc scrap to a diverse customer base, including specialty smelters.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Long-standing commitment to environmentally responsible recycling practices

  • Investment in modern equipment to improve recovery rates and material quality


1️⃣ 10. DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Non-Ferrous Metal Production & Recycling, Zinc Smelting

DOWA is a Japanese integrated non-ferrous metals group with its own zinc smelting and recycling operations. Unlike traders, DOWA consumes zinc scrap directly in its production processes, making it a key end-market for secondary zinc, particularly in the high-demand Asian region.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of advanced Eco-Smelting™ technologies for efficient metal recovery from complex scraps

  • Active participant in creating a resource-circulating society in Japan and beyond

Get Full Report Here:
Zinc Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Zinc Scrap Is Integrated and Innovative

The zinc scrap market is undergoing a profound transformation. As the demand for sustainable materials intensifies, the recycling industry is evolving from a collection-based model to a high-tech, integrated supply chain partner for global manufacturing.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rise of Urban Mining: Increased recovery of zinc from end-of-life products and industrial waste, turning cities into resource reservoirs.

  • Advanced Sorting Technologies: Adoption of AI, robotics, and sensor-based sorting to improve the purity and yield of recycled zinc.

  • Regulatory Push for Circularity: Stricter government policies, especially in the EU and North America, mandating higher recycled content in products.

  • Supply Chain Integration: Closer collaboration between scrap processors, smelters, and end-users like the automotive and construction industries.

Get Full Report Here:
Zinc Scrap Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not just recycling metal—they are fundamentally reshaping the global zinc supply chain for a more sustainable and resilient future.