Universal Recycling Company

Universal Recycling Company is a scrap metal recycling company, processing and trading non-ferrous scrap metal.

Universal Recycling Company (URC) was founded by Alfred Loewenthal in 1937 in Johannesburg as A Loewenthal Metals (ALM) up until 1954 where the company operated in Fordsburg, after which it moved to Industria on the Western side of the city where it still is to this day. In 1976, Alfreds son David Loewenthal join the company. In 1982, ALM installed the first scrap metal shredder in South Africa and In 1988 ALM went into a joint venture with the Cape Gate Group (CG )with a larger ferrous shredder.   Universal Recycling Company was formed in 1992.

Universal Recycling is a licensed hazardous waste processor, with an ISO 9001 accreditation.

The company provides trading, processing and transportation to the non-ferrous recycling industry. Universal

Recycling sources material from the local manufacturing industry, tenders, auctions, scrap metal dealers and local authorities, as well as public suppliers.

With a multitude of processing equipment, including 1200hp shredder, heavy media, magnetic and eddy current separation equipment, vertical grinders, balling machines, ball mills, super chopper, raspers, granulators, separating tables, water tables, classifiers, croppers and more.  Universal Recycling produces a high quality secondary raw material for both local and international consumers. Universal Recycling has both the technical expertise and the experience to process most grades of complex and simple non-ferrous scrap, as well as material which requires certified destruction.

Universal Recycling trades all ISRI grades of non-ferrous scrap for both the domestic market, as well as for export.

The company has a long tradition of trading in most of the Southern African countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, DRC, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In 2017, URC became a minority shareholder in Star Recycling who have ferrous processing yards in Alrode (Alberton) and Industria (Johannesburg)