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

The global top 100 most Inspiring Recyclers was released today.

A massive thank you to Recycling International and Martijn Reintjes for putting me in the top 10.

A huge congrats to both my friends Paul Coyte and Bhavna Razdan for being named 1 and 2.

Everyone on the list is awesome and doing incredible things.

It's an absolute honor to be in such great company.

There are so many people doing great things.

Anyone you think is missing this year?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Top100

The best life hack I ever found, was marrying someone way out of my league.

13 years I’ve now been married to this absolute legend.

People often think we’re crazy working together.

But we love building cool things with each other.

Of course there are going to be hard times.

But we work our way through them.

Because we have the same goal.

To help our boys become men.

And to grow old together.


Thanks Lisa Elly Kagan (Zaidel) for eventually giving-in and marying me!


To celebrate we spent the night on the town and this was the only picture I got 🤦

#Anniversary #ScrapCouple #Entrepreneurship

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Does your company answer the phone?

It’s accepted in our industry to miss calls.

“We’re so busy, we can’t be expected to answer every call.”

I’ve been told this so many times, it’s crazy.

Then why spend any money on marketing.

Landing a customer starts with awareness. 

Companies pay a lot on advertising for this.

But once they know about you, what next?

Obviously they call you and you answer. 

They may call for:

💰 Prices
🚛 Transport
⏰ Open times

If you miss a call you lose a customer.

In NZ we phoned every scrap yard.

None of them answered the phone. 

We knew how to have an edge.

Answer the damn phone.

It’s really that easy.

So why don’t you answer every calls?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #MissedCalls

If metals were people.

This is who they’d be.

After years working with metal.

I’ve started to see them as personalities.

So I tried something different.

I imagined what each grade would look like - as a person.

And here’s what came out 👇

Swipe through the 6 images and tell me:

Which one feels most accurate?

Or which one did i get wrong?

Drop your thoughts below! 👇

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #MetalPersonalitiesyt

He’s been bitten by the bug. 

And we all know what that means.

He’s here to stay.

Chase Wymore joined Buddy a few months ago.

And is now visiting yards to get more involved.

Even in tech, the scrap metal bug will get ya.

I always warned everyone that joins us. 

Be careful… you may never leave.

It’s a real thing, that’s for sure.


Why is this a thing in our industry? 

How long fo you think it takes for someone to be hooked?


#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #ScrapForLife

Do you know what Tall Poppy Syndrome is?

Because there's a chance you may have it.

It's when you hope successful people fail.

It's not wanting anyone to be successful.

Everyone to be the same level as you.

Next time someone is celebrating.

Check how it makes you feel.

Are you happy for them.

Or you hope they fail.


When I see someone doing great things.

My immediate response is YES MAN!

Do you think there is only 1 winner?

We can literally all win in this life!

Celebrate others more often.

Do you cheer or jeer?

#Entrepreneurship #CelebrateOthers #TallPoppySyndrome

Before we started building Buddy.

Lisa Elly Kagan (Zaidel) spoke to 150 scrap metal recyclers.

This is not so easy to do.

It takes serious commit.

The findings were vital.

Here's what they said:

🤝  Relationships are everything
📩  There are way too many emails
🤨 Trust is hard earned on both sides
⌛  It takes too long to vet new buyers
🤑  Everybody wants more for their metal

Before these calls we didn't know what we were building.

Afterwards we knew exactly what the industry needed.

Even though I've been doing this for over 27 years.

Hearing it from everyone else was validating.

And it was the beginning of this journey.

To help operators out there.

Make more money.

And save time.

Safely!

Do you speak others before starting a project?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #Buddy

Pick your favourite cap.

At Buddy we love our merch.

Looking back at this incredible year.

Which of these caps was your favourite?  

Please comment the “name” of the cap you like the most. 

2026 is going to have even better merch. 

With your help, you’ll get what you want.

If you have pics of your Buddy cap in the wild, please add to the comments too.

#MetalRecycling #StayScrappy #MetalAF

Recycling metal before it was cool!

Entrepreneurs before it was sexy!

It started with the Grubbers.

Immigrants that needed to make money.

They found their opportunity in metal.

Finding old “junk” scrap to remove.

This was not an easy days work.

They worked harder than most.

And slowly but surely grew.

They started with nothing.

Grew into Billions.


These guys were real entrepreneurs.

Hustling just to make ends meet. 

Grinding to make an impact.

And boy did they ever!

Anyone made a bigger impact? 

#Entrepreneurship #MetalRecycling

Cash is king, they say!

In scrap metal recycling it’s more important than that.

We pay for the metal as we receive it.

We sort, process and load the metal.

For best prices we wait for payment.

Average cash turn is +- 45 days.

We can take the lower prices.

And get paid on packing. 

But in order to compete.

We need top prices.

So without cash.

No growth.


Trade finance is the best way to grow.

By borrowing against invoices.

You get money in fast.

And top prices.

But it’s risky.


Anyone else know a better way to manage this cash flow situation?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #TradeFinance

I’ve been working on something quietly.

For a few months now.


Scrap’s always been tough.

And the pressure stacks quickly.
No space between the hits.
Little time to recover.

In our world, resilience is everything.
It’s not about just bouncing back.
It’s about expecting the punch.
And planning accordingly.

That’s what Balls of Steel is about.

It’s not about me.
It’s about a new kind of resilience.

One that helps reduce surprises.
Make much sharper decisions.
And survive the next cycle.

The book is nearly done.
Now I need your help:
Which cover do you like best?

 1 or 2?

PS: See full blurb in the comments.

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #BallsOfSteel

The yard of the future.

Fiction or an impending reality?

I had a very quick play with Gemini today.

Asked it to create a futuristic scrap yard.

Its interesting that you see no people.

Except maybe in the control centre.

Years ago I would've said fiction.

Now I totally believe its coming.

Maybe not in the next decade.

But it'll get there I believe.

What do you think?

Fiction or reality?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #FutureOfRecycling

Are tariffs good or bad for the metal recycling industry?

George Adams got up at the BIR - Bureau of International Recycling and made a great argument for why they are great for the USA.

Its real hard to to get everyone to agree in general, I get it.

When it comes to tariffs it seems a lot don't like them.

They made sense to me as I can see the benefit.

However, export controls I see how they can be terrible.

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” — Margaret Fuller

So I would love to hear if you think they're good or bad and why?

Any actual impacts on you would be great too.

#Tariffs #MetalRecycling #KnowledgeShare

Buddy Lego Masters - Scrapyard Edition!

A few weeks ago we surprised the team with 2 Lego sets at their door.

We met online from different parts of the world.

We all raced to build the metal yard together.

Then we threw a curveball for the team.

Everyone opened their 2nd Lego set.

The challenge:

They had a week to create a scrap metal recycling scene using both sets.

Here’s what the other sets were:

🪄 Harry Potter
🛸 Star Wars
❄️ Frozen 
🧱 Minecraft

Extra points were given for the best images.

These were all physical builds presented.

Obviously some used AI for the images.

See the teams images below.

Which is your best? 

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #LegoScrapYard

Buddy Lego Masters - Scrap yard edition 

If there's 1 thing I've instilled in my kids it's this!

Always be the hardest working person out there.

Whether they're on the field or in a classroom.

Its out of their control to always be the best.

But effort is 100% in everyone's control.

It may not get you noticed right away.

But its not about being #1 today.

It's about finishing on top!

Hustle wins every time!

If you weren't watching the game on Sunday.

This clip is from the end of the Eagles vs Cowboys game

Score was tied 24-24. Eagles had been up 21-0 in 2nd quarter.

This tackle won the Cowboys the game!

I was screaming at my kids... 

"Look at Clark never giving up! He just won the Cowboys the game!"

#Hustle #Entrepreneurship #NeverGiveUp

I used to always try get pricelists from other yards.

Beating their prices was the only arrow in my quiver.

I had to know what my competition was paying.

I do think it's important to know these prices.

But at the same time you need a strategy.

It shouldn't be only to outprice others.

If you want to win-over customers.

Try these 6 simple things:

- Manage expectations
- Service with a smile
- Over communicate
- Put up Wayfinding
- Answer the phone
- Keep a clean yard

Most of you think that you already do this.

In SA I had 85 yards, we didn't do this.

I've seen over 100 yards in the US.

Most of them don't do it either.

But in NZ we got it right.

So it is very doable!

And it pays off!

Have you got any of the 6 right?

#MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #CustomerService

XIMKART

XIMKART is one of the nation's leading scrap metal recyclers and brokers, with processing and warehouse centers and offices throughout India and Hongkong. XIMKART has a reputation for innovation in the scrap metal industry.Our warehouse facilities are State-of-the-art.We are one of the largest traders of ferrous and non- ferrous in the country serving industrial clients and salvage operations of every kind. XIMKART continues to develop new and expanded services and capabilities to meet the changing needs of its clients and the marketplace.

Category Head

Okaya Power Group

OKAYA POWER Manufacturing New Batteries with Brand "OKAYA " we recycle old batteries and make new batteries.
we always buy Scrap auto batteries after removal of acid and Auto Batteries Plates with lugs and Terminal, Remelted Lead, Soft Lead, Refined Lead 99.98.

Head - Import

OfBusiness

We procure Ferrous and Non Ferrous scrap ,
Aluminium scrap (Tense, TT, Zorba, Zurich, Troma, UBC ,Talon, Extrusion 6063,6061,6000 ,Drained Auto Lead Batteries scrap RAINS, Auto Batteries Plates RAILS, Remelted Lead, Soft Lead RADIO , Refined lead 99.98.
and HMS scrap and Stainless steel.
we are self smelters of Alloys and finished Good Roll Product. We Trade directly Scrap to Indian Manufacturers after Import.
we set up 24 manufacturing plants in india for manufacturing STEEL and Alloys.
I procure scraps worldwide from Yards and Traders - Middle East,Europe,UK,USA,JAPAN, AUSTRALIA,
I am always keen to innovate in scrap industries.

Head - Import 

Pilot Industries Ltd

Raw Material Procurement on International Reputed Suppliers.
New Supplier and Yards development for the growth of Organization.
Sourcing for Lead scrap Globally and full fill the requirements of the Plants.
Making pipe line for Raw Material as need.
Maintain Scrap R.M Inventory with the help of Plant .
Pricing Negotiation with The International Supplier.
Tracking Import Shipment and Custom clearance.
International Scrap Yards visit to close the business and checking strength of yards.
Checking scrap yards Rating befor closing any new business and checking Banking rating with the help of bank and D&B Report.
New Scrap yards background verification with the help of SGS and previous scrap supply business in India.
Collecting Feedback from Any current working Customer who got scrap supply from the Finiliz yards to start new business.

Senior Manager Import

Century Metal Recycling Limited

Raw Material Incoming and Planning,
Collect Dilevery Order from Shipping Line ,
proper coordination with Custom and Shipping line for Containers planning.
making Quality report data and Claim send to International supplier and settled.

Assistant Manager Materials

Micro Turners Group - India

Incoming Raw Materials Inspection and Maintain Production Plan as per Customer schedule.
Planning schedule meeting with Production team and dispatch and sales team.
arranging the schedule from Suppliers for raw materials ,
planning meeting with Customers and suppliers.

Import Materials Planning 

Materials Management, fulfill the customers requirement, 
arranging Raw Materials from the vendors ,
develope new suppliers for the industry growth,
negotiate the pricing and finilize the deal as per company requirement.
getting the customers schedule and making the planning how to fulfill with team.
responsible for customer complaints ,
Suddenly planning for Vendor audit.

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