25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...

I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.

Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don’t produce much metal).

I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. Thats right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.

Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 10 football coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.

PS - if you are a scrap metal exporter looking to up your game, tune into my podcast Born Scrappy https://tinyurl.com/BornScrappy

PPS - if you’re looking to make better trades with less effort, check out the industry’s first and only relationship-led marketplace, Buddy www.tradebuddy.io

Stuart Kagan

We're incredibly honored to be featured on the front page of Recycling International this month.

"Meet Buddy - The marketplace reshaping scrap metal trading"

A huge thank you to Martijn Reintjes for the spotlight and for telling our story.

"Scrap trading will always be relationship-led. No interface can replace earned intuition. 

But the workflow around those relationships is changing - towards ongoing inbound visibility, clearer signals, and tools that let buyers both respond to supply and actively stimulate it. 

As sourcing becomes more inbound and trade records more structured, platforms that help suppliers find a home for their metal - and help buyers find reliable, quality supply - are beginning to define the next operating standard. 

In that environment, the real risk may not be adopting new tools too early but adopting them too late."

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #BuddyMarketplace

I hired a senior manager from Sims.

He was meant to be a game-changer.

He sure was!

Just not in the way I hoped.

- He blamed everyone.
- Took all the credit.
- Sowed division.

We went from being a tight team. 

To a bunch of sparring individuals.

Everyone looked out for themselves.

He killed our culture.

I kept him too long.

The damage outlived him.

Team spirit shattered and people left.

It took months to repair, years to rebuild.

If you’re avoiding someone on your own team.
 
If they do no wrong, but claim all the praise.
 
If you dread that Monday meeting.

Rip it off like a Band-Aid.

Hire slow.

Fire fast.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast!

#Leadership #Culture #Entrepreneurship

The metal recycling industry is built on relationships. 

Or is it?

I spent years questioning the real value of relationships in the scrap game.

For a long time I felt like, to be honest, it's really all about the money.

At the end of the day, we just in it to make profits and move on.

Yes that's true, we are in this to be successful and profitable.

But then a few years ago I looked around and saw mates.

Friends I call in hard times and also celebrate wins with.

Relationships that go deeper than just the business.

People I care about and want to see be successful.

In their business and in their personal lives! 

I started to ask myself a simple question.

Would I call them if I left the industry.

The answer is almost always YES.

This year for me is about growth.

Growing all my relationships.

Being there for my friends.

And celebrating them.

We in this together.

Are you with me?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Relationships

A younger me had spent over 10 years working in the yards. 

So to get out there and do it all again was never an issue.

11 years ago I went from fancy offices in Johannesburg, running 85 yards with 4200 people. 

To opening a tiny little scrapyard in Auckland, New Zealand.

Being only me working there in the beginning was super humbling.

Offloading vehicles, processing metal, dealing with customers etc

I had to do it all. But I had a vision and I was hungry as f*-k.

If it wasn’t for all those hard yards in my 20s.

I wouldnt have been able to do what I did.

If it’s feeling tough for you right now.

Just know that you’re learning.

And getting ready for more.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

How did you train? 

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #HardYards

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Live footage of me onboarding a new Buddy yard.

The scrap yard is definitely my happy place. 

I love being in a metal recycling yard.

I’m blessed to do it often lately.

But more importantly!

It’s Friday, I’m a happy guy!

Why not do a little dance.

Maybe make a little love.

Even get down tonight! 

Happy Friday y’all!

#RecyclingDance #HappyFriday #GetDown

“If we’re not proud when we drive up to our yard,
then we shouldn’t own it.”

George Adams from SA Recycling never misses on stage!

This morning he reminded us all what real leadership looks like.

No excuses.
Just discipline.

👊 153 yards
👊 153 financial statements
👊 within 5 days of month end

The secret to his incredible leadership.

🚫 Not top down.

⬆️ Bottom up.

The corporate team works for the yards.
Not the other way around.

Sharing profits with managers motivates more than any mission statement.

People are your greatest assets.
If you actually treat them like it.

Biggest takeaway for me:
Great yards don’t just need a manager.
They need a hunter.

Do you agree with the above?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Leadership

I couldn't run a scrap metal company.

Without this 1 super-power!

Without ADHD there is now way I'd be where I am today.

It's crazy that its considered a problem with youngsters.

Of course studying was almost impossible at school.

But there were different things I was good at.

Lets be very clear, we're not all the same.

Some can sit at their desk for days.

(My mom called that a$$ power.)

While I was doing 100 other things.

I was good at solving problems though.

Smashing out multiple tasks at the same time.

Constantly making decisions and moving forward.

This is what helped me grow in the industry.

I wouldn't have it any other way!


Do you think ADHD is a super-power or not?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #ADHD #Entrepreneurship

This week on Born Scrappy.

I chat to Steve Deacon.

Chief Commercial Officer at EMR Group.

One of the sharpest commercial minds in scrap.

We talk about mastering margin.

Where it disappears.

Why position matters more than price.

And how culture beats equipment every time.

If you want to run a tighter yard, this one’s for you.

Steve Deacon didn’t plan on getting into scrap. In fact, two weeks before graduating college, he didn’t have a job at all. That changed when he landed

Open article: Steve Deacon on Mastering Margin by Stuart Kagan • 3 min read

Buddy vibes!

Our team is amazing.

There’s something about getting the team together in person that makes me excited. 

I had the great pleasure of running our Sales Kick Off this week.

Everyone is super excited for what lies ahead this year. 

We’ve only just started the journey we’re on.

The last year we focused on getting it right.

We wanted to prove out what we offered.

This year we’re going to spread the love. 

We’re getting out there to show it off.

Get more users making more money.

We may pitch up at your yard soon.

Trust me it’ll be worth the chat.

2026 is going to be awesome.


PS: Next time we will get the NZ team to join us too. 😎

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #SKO

The gates aren’t open yet.

But the day has already started.

The best scrappies I know win their day before it begins.

They don’t get in early to catch up from the day before. 

They get in early to take control of the day ahead.

Before the day takes control of them.

What does a winning morning look like to me?

👟 A yard walk.
 I do the same route. Every day.
 Check the piles. Check the roads.
 Notice all the small things hiding.
 Before they become big problems.

👷‍♂️ A team talk.
Safety topic.
The plan for the day.
Let the team speak openly.
This is where I learn the most.

🎯 A reset.
See who’s foggy.
Who’s distracted.
Who’s ready.
Motivate.

You don’t need more time.
You need more intention.

Mornings are where your standards live.
Where your risks get spotted.
And your culture shows.

Make them count.

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Mornings

Born Scrappy is back.

Next we we launch season 5.

We have more than 12 masterclass episodes.

With incredible guests like:

Steven Zusman - Metro Metals  
Neil Byce - CW Metals
Steve Deacon - EMR 
Craig G. Weber - Metal Exchange 
Bob Alvarez - Shapiro 
Evan J Schwartz - AMCS Group 
Ryan Fogelman - Fire Rover 

I’m super excited for this season.

There’s more value than ever before.

Let me know what you think of this line up.

There’ll also be a few surprise changes.

So get ready for the upgrade.

Next week we back.

Let’s go!

#BornScrappy #MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Podcast

I recorded an episode of Born Scrappy this week.

A masterclass on Mastering Margins.

It was a great deep dive into things that really matter.

So often we focus on stuff that doesn't turn the dial.

Most of the time the best way to steady the ship.

Is to completely focus on how to buy for less.

Then in turn - look at how to sell for more.

Seems super simple, I know... I get it.

But as owners or managers.

We often look elsewhere.

The big tough things.

Think differently.

Start simple.

Buy well.

Sell well.

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Margins

Time for some more BS.

What do you want more or less of?

We start recording Born Scrappy Season 5 next week.

This season we doing 12 x Masterclasses.

The episode topics look a bit like this:

- Moving From “Good Yard” to “Great Business”
- The Scrap Operator’s Guide to Cash Flow
- Technology of the Future (Demystified)
- Navigating market consolidation
- The Art of Buying Scrap
- Keeping great people
- Pricing like a pro
- Safety first

We have some incredible guests lined up.

And I'm super excited for this season.

Help me make the show better.

What do you like about it?

What do you not like?

Born Scrappy

Season 5

Coming

Soon!

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Podcast #MasterClass

The Copper price flying is not all positive.

It usually reduces return on capital significantly.

Today we see Dr Copper back up to crazy heights.

And although most on social media are excited.

It's not as straight forward for metal recyclers.

Yes, if you are one of those lucky companies.

That has been sitting on copper for months.

Then this is a great run for you, no doubt.

I bet you waiting for it to run even higher.

But for the rest of us day to day traders.

It does not simply mean more profit.

You see not all markets have a % margin.

When your competition is fighting hard.

Often your margin is a fixed amount.

Now you are paying a higher price.

For the same gross margin.

I only have this advice.

Move the metal.

Be careful.

Are you selling or holding?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #CommodityTrading

Do you ever catch someone doing something right and celebrate it?

Do you say something like “I love that you’re doing that, thank you!”

I heard this from Simon Sinek and I absolutely love it. This was never something I proactively looked for.

Yes if we kick a goal I’m all about celebrating with the team. But I never stop and look for someone doing something right. 

This is so powerful because not only does it make that person feel great. It shows your team you value them.

So many times I would see my team go the extra mile for a customer. 

It’s what I expected them to do, so no praise needed.

I was wrong! This is when you have to celebrate them.

Let them know you appreciate them.

And let others know too.


Do you know someone who does this well?

Or can you do better? 

#Leadership #MetalRecycling #Celebrate

Optimist, New York Times bestselling author of "Start with Why" and "The Infinite Game", and founder of The Optimism Company

Great leaders see and invest in employees as whole persons.
Which of these approaches can you try out this week?

Video from Chick-fil-A Next 2025, in conversation with Chief Legal Officer Lynette Smith

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