Bluestar Metal Recycling

Bluestar - A History of Recycling Excellence Since 1883

Recycling may seem like a rather new concept to many, however you may find it interesting to learn that the Bluestar Metal Recycling Company has been providing recycling services for over 130 years in fact.  Bluestar Metal Recycling Company, located in Elyria, Ohio was founded by Simon Altfeld back in the year 1883.Simon would travel around town on his horse-drawn wagon collecting materials to recycle- primarily steel, paper and rags from the local residents and industries.  Each day after collecting enough material, Simon would take them back to his home where in the back yard he and his two sons. Jack and Alex (shown in the photo above), would break apart the large pieces of cast iron with sledge hammers and separate the other materials.The separated materials were then loaded back into the wagon and secured for the day long trip to the steel mills, located in Cleveland, Ohio.Simon would then spend the night in Cleveland and travel back to Elyria the following day, where he would then sell the much sought after commodity of sewing notions, which he purchased while in Cleveland.The following years brought about three changes in location for Bluestar Metal Recycling, the final move being to the company's current location - 201 Williams Street in Elyria, and in 1919 Bluestar was formalized into a corporation.From the time Simon Altfeld founded Bluestar Metal Recycling in 1883, numerous members Altfeld family have been involved in working for, and running the business.  Today Bluestar is run by a fourth generation of Altfeld family members - Ted Altfeld, Robin Altfeld Kaufman and Scott Altfeld.The Altfeld family also owns the Aztec Steel Corporation which is located in Elyria, Ohio as well, only blocks away from Bluestar Recycling on Taylor Street.

 Benefit of Recycling

Recycling is an important way for individuals and businesses to reduce the waste they generate and reduce the negative impact of that waste. Because recycling is big business in Ohio, every time you recycle, it also supports the many companies and employees doing this important work.Recycling conserves our natural resources, saves landfill space, conserves energy, and reduces water pollution, air pollution and the green house gas emissions that cause global warming.Together, Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and buying Recycled products make up a comprehensive waste and resource reduction strategy that benefits our natural world and our economy.

Saving natural resources and natural areas

Making products with recycled material slows the depletion of non-renewable resources such as metal, oil and natural gas, and reduces the encroachment of new mining and drilling operations.Conserving renewable resources through recycling also helps preserve undisturbed land and natural diversity by reducing the amount of land needed for agriculture and timber production.