A Scrap Life
Follow Brett Ekart as he finds people throughout the country living "A Scrap Life"
Episodes
June 3, 2026 • 32 mins
In this June edition of The Trade, Brett and Chad analyze the June 2026 ferrous market "standoff," focusing on the balance between strong domestic mill demand and a cooling export market. They explore how infrastructure projects like data centers are driving scrap usage and discuss why most experts predict a "sideways" market for the month ahead. Produced by Recycled Media.
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May 12, 2026 • 36 mins
In this May copper episode of The Trade, hosts Brett and Aldo discussing how financial speculation and AI-driven demand are currently fueling a volatile copper market despite rising physical inventories. They offer strategic risk-management advice for scrap yard operators, emphasizing the importance of sticking to fundamentals while navigating the disconnect between paper trading and physical supply.
Produced by Recycled Media.
Produced by Recycled Media.
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May 7, 2026 • 41 mins
In this May ferrous episode of The Trade, hosts Brett and Chad analyze the bullish scrap metal market, highlighting record-high copper prices and steady steel demand fueled by the "AI boom" and domestic infrastructure projects. They also discuss the operational challenges of rising fuel costs and inflation while emphasizing the importance of staying disciplined and reinvesting in industrial equipment.
Produced by Recycled Media.
Produced by Recycled Media.
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April 8, 2026 • 65 mins
On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by John Sacco to engage in a debate over whether their industry should identify as the "scrap" trade or the "recycled materials" industry. The conversation explores whether "scrap" represents a badge of honor and value identifier, or if "recycled materials" is a necessary narrative adjustment to overcome negative perceptions and avoid restrictive government regulations. Produced by R...
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April 2, 2026 • 23 mins
In this April edition of "The Trade," hosts Brett and Chad discuss the current state of the scrap metal market, specifically examining how the Iranian war has shifted export demand toward Turkey. They further evaluate domestic market health by analyzing steel mill utilization rates, seasonal scrap flows, and the impact of rising freight costs on April pricing.
Produced by Recycled Media.
Produced by Recycled Media.
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March 6, 2026 • 21 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Aldo Jordan to discuss he factors driving the March 2026 copper market, including China's economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and the impact of the strong US dollar. Aldo ultimately advises a "buy, sell, and forget it" approach for scrap handlers due to the lack of clear price support above the $6 mark. Produced by Recycled Media.
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March 4, 2026 • 59 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett and Chad are joined by Atilla Widnell of Navigate Commodities, who explains how satellite technology and thermal imagery provide real-time insights into global steel mill utilization and ferris scrap demand. The discussion also covers the impact of international conflicts on market sentiment, inflation trends in the U.S. and Turkey, and China's significant role in global scrap gene...
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February 9, 2026 • 29 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Mike Anderson, VP of Materials Trading at Schupan & Sons, to analyze the current state of the aluminum market, focusing on how Section 232 tariffs and record-high Midwest premiums are impacting domestic scrap pricing and international trade flows. The discussion also explores the future of the industry, highlighting the impact of potential interest rate changes and...
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February 6, 2026 • 26 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Aldo Jordan to discuss the unprecedented volatility in the copper market and how financial speculation is increasingly decoupling prices from physical supply and demand. This episode provides expert insights into shifting Chinese consumption while offering essential advice for scrap business owners on managing insurance, credit lines, and operational risks. Produced by...
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February 5, 2026 • 38 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Chad to analyze the February 2026 scrap metal market, highlighting copper as a potential "trade of the year" and discussing how small businesses can navigate current market volatility. This episode explores the impact of macroeconomic trends, such as GDP growth and energy costs, on ferrous and non-ferrous positioning to help operators maximize their margins.
Produced b...
Produced b...
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January 23, 2026 • 20 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Aldo Jordan to dive into the 2026 copper market, exploring why prices have surged toward $6.00 due to heavy financial speculation rather than supply-side fundamentals,,,. They provide critical insights for scrap operators on managing massive cash flow demands, navigating widening spreads, and the importance of rapid inventory turnover during periods of extreme market v...
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January 9, 2026 • 28 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Chad to kick off January 2026 by analyzing the current state of the scrap metal industry and reflecting on the "muddle along" performance of 2025,. The duo discusses market trends for ferrous and non-ferrous metals, exploring how macro factors like AI, oil price volatility, and steel demand may shape what they hope will become the "year of the commodity". Produced by R...
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January 8, 2026 • 44 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Mike Anderson, VP of Materials Trading at Schupan & Sons, to analyze the aluminum market. The episode covers how recent tariffs have dramatically increased the Midwest Premium, leading to historically wide scrap spreads and an influx of supply. They stress that sorting and quality are crucial for scrap traders to maximize value by providing material that can substi...
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December 4, 2025 • 40 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, the guys analyze why iron prices fluctuate, covering the current slow scrap flow and steel mill inventory tactics, while debating a bullish outlook for 2026 fueled by infrastructure projects and anticipated demand for ferrous and non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum. They also discuss how winter weather slows scrap flow and why steel mills intentionally manage inventory to boost c...
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October 15, 2025 • 77 mins
On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Gaby Olson of Redwood Materials, focusing on the scrap metal industry. The conversation details Gabby's extensive career path, from her start in cosmetics and banking to her experiences buying and trading scrap, and eventually pivoting to the innovative field of EV and lithium-ion battery recycling. Produced by Recycled Media.
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October 6, 2025 • 41 mins
On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Ian Laffey of Zato North America to discuss the strategic necessity of specialized equipment like dual shaft shredders for bridging processing gaps, navigating market volatility, and finding a profitable niche for growth. Produced by Recycled Media.
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October 1, 2025 • 57 mins
The fourth annual Scrap Expo in Louisville, KY concluded on September 17th, 2025. "Maximize Growth, Control Costs and Capitalize on Opportunities", was a session on September 17th that featured Brett Ekart, CEO of United Metals Recycling, as moderator, along with panelists Brian Ferguson, CFO of United Metals, Blake Dorsett, president of ShearWorx, and Aldo Jordan, president of The Metals Agency. They discussed strategies for maxim...
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September 4, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of The Trade - A Scrap Life, Brett and Chad analyze the "odd" and "sideways" ferrous scrap market in September, noting mill cancellation notices and fluctuating prices, while also discussing macroeconomic factors like interest rates. The guys offer strategic advice for small scrap yard owners, emphasizing strong cash flow management, timely investments, and pursuing growth opportunities during challenging markets. P...
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September 3, 2025 • 73 mins
On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Chris Dethmers and his son Austin from Louisburg Recycling. They discuss running their family-owned scrap metal business, highlighting the importance of customer service, effective cash flow management, and strategic growth within the industry, as well as the value of mentorship and a strong work ethic.
Produced by Recycled Media.
Produced by Recycled Media.
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August 26, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of A Scrap Life, Brett is joined by Jim Keefe from Recycling Today to discuss Scrap Expo 2025. This year marks the fourth annual Scrap Expo, which is scheduled for September 16 and 17 in Louisville, Kentucky. Produced by Recycled Media.
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