In 2022, Colin White – EHS Specialist at Sims Metal, reached out to Fatima Smith, Principal at Oak- Grove – Bellemeade Elementary School (OGBES), located just a few miles from Sims Metal in Richmond, VA. OGBES is a Title 1 school that serves approximately 675 students in PreK – 5.

“From that very first meeting, we realized Sims and OGBES had so many values in common. Mrs. Smith is an acclaimed educator who has a genuine commitment to helping schools implement educational programs focused on environmental stewardship, sustainability, and recycling. From that first day, specific short- and long-term goals have been set up to consolidate a partnership that directly benefits OGBES students’ education.”

Colin White – EHS Specialist

Sims Metal has offered financial support for the 2022-2023 school year to source school and teacher supplies, software licenses, and laboratory kits and equipment for an after-school program focused on the circular economy, sustainability, and the recycling industry.

Using the school’s grounds in Bellemeade Park, which include a waterway, as a practical learning environment, the kids examine macro and micro life all around them. That gets them thinking on human impacts on the environment – like climate change, litter and pollution – and how humans can solve these problems.

The job of the Sims Metal team is teaching the OGBES students the importance of keeping resources in use for as long as possible, how to recycle correctly and what metal recycling techniques are. The program also includes speeches from our business experts and hands-on demonstrations for the students!

“Sims Metal is onsite at OGBES every two weeks and the kids are loving our lab activities! Our team get so much out of it as well – it’s a fantastic way to be involved in the community and we’re inspired by the enthusiasm and curiosity of the students”.

Colin White – EHS Specialist

If you have a community initiative that you believe Sims Metal could help you deliver, get in touch with us.

The post Sims Metal teaching future generations about sustainability – Our growing partnership with the OGBE school in Richmond, VA appeared first on Sims Metal.

Sims Limited is invested in supporting the women who already work with us in the Sims Metal division by offering internal mentorship programs, like the one launched by Sims Limited, “Women Leading @Sims.”

We want to encourage all women around the globe they can not only work in the metal recycling industry but also perfectly fit in and become incredibly successful. 

Jamie Fienan – Director of Transportation, NAM, is one of them. Jamie is new to the metal recycling industry, but she has 30 years of experience in the global container transportation industry, another traditionally male-dominated industry.

We asked what her experience as a woman in male-dominated industries has been, and here is her response:

“As a woman, I always feel confident walking into a room full of men and running with it, including making quick decisions that have a long-lasting impact and explaining the rationale. I think it’s all about believing in yourself. Strive to lead confidently and remain calm in all situations, don’t let anyone intimidate you or make you think you don’t belong. Be where you want to be and believe you deserve it.”  

Jamie Fienan
Director of Transportation

We asked Jamie to provide us with 10 tips on how to succeed as a woman in a career in the recycling industry:

1. Cultivate your ability to decide and be confident 
2. Think strategically and strategize for success
3. Persevere and stick to your guns
4. Keep an open mind and be adaptable
5. Have an openness to learning new technology systems
6. Stop competing and comparing, know what you are worth
7. Set good examples for women and men alike
8. Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself 
9. Promote yourself and do a self-assessment often
10. Take a seat at the table and don’t be afraid to speak up even if you’re the only woman in the room

There is no such thing as a woman’s or a man’s job. Gender should not determine your professional opportunities. Sims welcomes more women to work in the metal recycling industry and join Jamie and the other women leaders at Sims. At Sims Metal, we are committed to encouraging and inspiring more women to consider a career in this industry.

If you’re interested in working at Sims Metal, click here.

The post 10 Tips to succeed as a woman with a career in the recycling industry – Jamie Fienan, Director of Transportation at Sims Metal appeared first on Sims Metal.

“We’ve been steadily working towards our 2025 goal of 100 percent renewable electricity,” stated Blaise Porter, Sims Limited’s group director of sustainability and social responsibility.

“Our sites in Chicago have used renewable electricity for some time and our facilities in New Jersey, including our largest site at Jersey City, made the switch in 2022. With our most recent transaction for Green e-certified electricity consumption at all North American sites, all Sims Metal, Sims Lifecycle Services and Richmond Steel Recycling operations will be matched with certified renewable electricity.”

Certified renewable energy schemes match on an annual basis the electricity Sims consumes from the grid with electricity produced from North American renewable sources, such as wind and solar farms. Sims Limited can claim market-based Scope 2 electricity emissions as zero*, as the company moves to be a global net-zero emissions business by 2050. Sims Metal has also invested in on-site solar panels as part of achieving this goal.

Sims Metal circular economy operations in North America use more than 100,000MWh of electricity each year, the equivalent of around 9,000 homes. Using 100% renewable electricity at all operations will reduce Sims Metal emissions by more than 27,000 tonnes compared to FY20 levels. “You’d need to switch more than a million light globes to LEDs to get that same reduction” explains Porter.

“Moving to renewable electricity is a critical part of our decarbonisation plans, especially as we move towards more electric equipment in our yards” said Porter. “North America now joins all Sims Limited sites in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, India and Europe in supporting 100% renewable electricity”.

Learn more about sustainability at Sims Limited.

*Using the market-based reporting methodology as per the GHG Protocol’s Scope 2 Standards.

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“Over the last four years, we’ve developed Sims’ critical risk management program, which has seen significant risk reduction in all business units, including Metals, with a year-over-year reduction in incidents and injury. In 2022 Sims Limited recorded its lowest injury rates ever, and this year those rates are trending even lower, towards world-class performance.”

Brian Maeck – Head of Global EHS

Brian’s key focus areas are implementing the continuous improvement strategy,  driving progress and adoption of enhanced best-in-class standardized risk control measures, and ensuring a smooth transition when new acquisitions and mergers happen. “I consider my role to be the global link between business units and regions, collecting EHS data to make informed, risk-based continuous improvement investment decisions.”

EHS stands for Environmental, Health, and Safety. The EHS department at Sims has a crucial role as change agents, implementing and continuously improving the control measures that protect workers, contractors, visitors, and the environment at all times.

But how exactly does the EHS function work?

“In the EHS function, we are very data-driven. We have a streamlined EHS management system built to drive improvement to protect the end-user (our field workers) who are at the most risk of injury. Each component of the EHS Management System is designed to support the next; for instance, our EHS Standard requirements set control measure specifications and expectations, while our control verification inspections collect proactive data determining whether these control measures are effective, which in turn drives continuous improvement. Associated awareness training is specific to drive control measure adoption, while our global communications celebrate that adoption.”

Incident prevention is imperative for a company like Sims. Most of our improvement initiatives come from proactive critical control verification data, which comes directly from our subject matter experts in the field, rather than relying solely on reactive incident data. “EHS is constantly gathering information on control measure effectiveness to drive improvements before an incident occurs.”

What are the biggest challenges that the EHS function has to face?

“The biggest challenge for us is determining what the best control measures are, then globally implementing them. As a global business, we pull a lot of data to determine where in the business we have the best solution. We then go through a data analysis process to present operations leaders’ business cases demonstrating how these improvements will positively affect the business and reduce incidents. We gain support and work to implement control measure improvements throughout the business. The great thing about our program is that these innovations have been implemented and adopted successfully elsewhere in the world. That’s where the benefit of having a globally aligned EHS function shines; we are not trying to solve problems in isolation; we leverage everybody’s experience around the company to drive positive change. Sims has recently created an EHS Partner Committee where all EHS management comes together to evaluate best-in-class control measures based on the control verification data and operational experience.”

Once controls are proven effective and adoption is achieved, the next important step is in positive reinforcement through recognition; either formally through our EHS Excellence Recognition program or informally one-to-one, it is crucial to celebrate positive EHS changes. We at Sims publish a monthly global EHS Focus [the publication name] communication highlighting personnel demonstrating EHS excellence.

Our culture is an essential element of our EHS strategy, and we at Sims continue to learn and grow.

“In the last few years, we’ve changed our way of thinking about safety in many ways. Management is focused on building trust-based relationships with employees, moving away from blame culture. We recognize that our employees are the solution to problems; they hold the answer to how things can improve. We recognize that Sims employees are the subject matter experts, so through collaboration with them, we evaluate and target potential process failure risk consequences. Not only does this provide new insights, but it creates excitement and support for future adoption of enhanced controls. People will always get behind something they played a part in developing.”

Brian Maeck – Head of Global EHS

Failures do and will happen, so we proactively prepare.

Our parent company, Sims Limited, leads the industry in safety performance due to proactive, continuous improvement processes that are transparently monitored across the company and challenge the effectiveness of existing health and safety control measures.

Find out more about health and safety at Sims here .

The post What’s the role of the EHS department? Brian Maeck – Head of Global EHS at Sims Limited – explains Sims Metal’s data-driven approach   appeared first on Sims Metal.

Sims Metal has established a recycling program at the Pantry by providing drums to collect cans and miscellaneous metal items no longer needed at their facilities. Any metal collected in these drums generates a payout directly into the Pantry’s budget.

Sims Metal supports the Pilsen Food Pantry in their new project: the Food Pantry Relocation. This month our employees came together to support the Pilsen Community in moving the Pilsen Food Pantry to a new location that will now accommodate the food pantry and a clothes closet, as well as various wellness programs. The new site requires significant renovations; our employees helped tear down old cabinets and walls to make room for new construction in the kitchen area, and Sims Metal donated $50k to support the whole project.

The Pilsen Food Pantry: A Small Organization, Making a Big Difference

The Pilsen Food Pantry has four employees and is supported by many volunteers, including students, health professionals from the nearby Illinois Medical district, and many community members. The Pantry’s primary purpose is to provide food and resources to those in need within the local Pilsen community.

Founded by the Figueroa Wu Family Foundation in 2018, the Pilsen Food Pantry is an extension of the foundation’s mission to bring anti-poverty services into areas of unmet need. In 2022, the Pantry served nearly 28,000 households in the area from the Lower West Side of Chicago.

Donate to Help Pilsen Pantry Reach $75k

Sims Metal donated $50k to support the Pantry’s new location. If you want to help us raise an additional $25k to match funds from an anonymous donor, please donate by visiting the Pilsen Food Pantry Website. 

Donations play a huge part in fulfilling these services, and something as small as an $8 donation supports a visit that distributes over 60 pounds of food for a family. All contributions toward the food pantry go directly into day-to-day operational costs.

Sims Metal is delighted to support and engage with the Pilsen neighborhood. Listening to and engaging with our people helps us make informed decisions and, in turn, forge a lasting positive impact. We are committed to building a stronger and more resilient future for the communities such as Pilsen, where we live and work.

The post Sims Metal in support of the Pilsen Food Pantry relocation project appeared first on Sims Metal.

The people who work in a company’s transportation department play a central role because they are responsible for directing, coordinating, planning, and overseeing tasks and operations related to moving vast amounts of goods/commodities.

Jamie Fienan, Director of Transportation for Sims Metal in North America, is a leader in the transportation department who recently joined the company in 2022. With 30 years of expertise, she has one of the most valuable roles in the company.  

Keep reading to get to know Jamie and the crucial role she plays at Sims Metal. 

How long have you been working in transportation?

“I have worked in logistics and transportation my entire career, and this is my first time in the metal recycling industry, and I enjoy the challenge and opportunity. My career has focused on the global containerized shipping business, and I have been in transportation and logistics for over 30 years. Sims Metal recruited me last Spring, and I began full-time in July 2022.”

The recycling industry is a new industry for you. How are you finding it?

“It’s fascinating, and I enjoy learning more about this evolving industry. The recycling industry is ever-changing, and there is an increased interest across the globe in sustainability. It’s a dynamic and exciting industry with the opportunity to make a real difference in the world for environmental, social, and economic benefits. In this dynamic marketplace, you will always have something on the horizon to look forward to, learn from, and grow in your career.” 

What are your primary responsibilities as Director of the Transportation Department in NAM?

“My goal is to professionalize our transportation department and streamline roles and responsibilities. In addition, I will create KPIs to drive the business and provide a definition of efficiency within transportation. My role also includes ensuring that the TMS System Review, our transportation management system, is meaningful and covers all our objectives and means for operations and commercial in NAM. In other words, I am an advocate for transportation nationally.”

What would you say is the secret to a successful career?

“I am a very driven person; I have always had clear goals. After graduating from college, I worked in the global container shipping industry. I have a well-rounded background and comprehensive insights into transportation and operations. I was fortunate to hold roles in various departments. I earned my MBA in marketing and international business, and I have ascended in my career by taking very calculated steps and thankfully landed my dream job!”

What’s the role of the transportation department in a company like Sims Metal? Why is it so important?

“I believe the transportation department is by far the most important department within Sims Metal globally. The Transportation department is the backbone of this company. Essentially, we need to move goods from point A to B, and we work with commercial on one end and operations on the other. The Transportation department is the central steering point of these two departments; without us, nothing would ever get where it needs to be.”

How has Sims Metal made you feel welcomed in the company?

“Michael Henderson, Jr. my direct reporting manager, has been wonderful and is a tremendous mentor to me. Everyone has been very kind and supportive. I’m fortunate to work with a great team who shares my vision. I have been traveling a lot since I started working with Sims Metal. I visited every region and almost every yard and met a lot of different personnel. Everyone has been very professional and shared their successes and current challenges. At the end of the day, any business is all about the people who work here, and I’m impressed by the personnel I’ve encountered who helped me learn more about their daily challenges so I can support them with productive solutions; this has been a great experience.”

Why would you say working at Sims Metal is a good idea?

“Sims is taking the right steps to grow and improve through new systems, diversity, and human resources; if your interest is sustainability and working for a company that wants to grow, improve and make a change, Sims Metal is the place for you.”

Thanks, Jamie for answering all our questions and explaining the critical role that the Director of Transportation NAM and the Transportation Department play at Sims Metal. 

At Sims Metal, we are an enabler of the circular economy. We buy metal from businesses, other recyclers, and the public; we process it and resell it to manufacturers around the globe. The Transportation department, jointly with the other business departments, makes all this possible.

Read more stories about women working at Sims Metal here!

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Monterey Road is a major thoroughfare in California’s Silicon Valley that runs from the town of Gilroy northward to San Jose. The Sims Metal San Jose site occupies a large area of frontage along the corridor, which acts as a gateway to the downtown area. In 2016, Sims Metal engaged with a San Jose city council member and the city’s chief of staff to understand issues affecting the community, which ranged from illegal dumping to services for unhoused people.

“We started with site tours and morphed into introductions to some of the community leaders and businesses in the area,” said Jill Rodby, public/government relations manager for the Western United States. “With their support, I started The Monterey Corridor Business Association, an informal group that provides a platform for our businesses to stay aware of, and advocate for, best solutions to the problems that challenge our business community.”

The group immediately became a useful connection for city officials to meet and work with businesses in the corridor. Regular lunch meetings were hosted by Sims Metal before pandemic restrictions forced the meetings to be held online. “The mix of city officials, businesses, developers and community organisations has led to some unique opportunities to make an impact,” she explains.

For instance, there has been a focus on enhancing the appearance of the corridor itself. “The association was keen to reduce litter and dumping, as well as inject some life into the roadway, so Sims Metal engaged a Downtown Streets Team to provide biweekly clean-ups along the fence line of our property,” Jill stated.

The team members are unhoused neighbours or people at risk of experiencing homelessness, and the fees from organisations like Sims Metal help fund access to trained case managers, who assist team members with navigating support options, such as employment services.

“We were also really excited to welcome local artist and muralist Tomas ‘Wisper’ Talamantes to create artwork on the exterior of our site, creating two beautiful murals that pay homage to the diverse local community and to the work we do at Sims Metal,” said Jill.

Tomas, an ex-gang member, developed an art program called Teach Peace, where he teaches life lessons to young people in the San Jose area through art and mural projects.

As for the future of the group? Jill is excited. “Now we are working with the city to establish as a 501(c) non-profit organization to help secure the future of the association and expand the impact we can have. By early 2023, we hope to have everything in place and be able to meet in person once again.”

Would you like to start a partnership with Sims Metal? Get in touch with us!

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According to APTA, in the US, people boarded public transportation 34 million times each weekday in 2019. In the same year, according to the American Community Survey (ACS), 46.3% of all public transportation travelers, about 3.6 million people, affirmed to use buses as their primary commuting mode!

A life of a bus, in the US, usually lasts 12-15 years or 250,000 miles, but the condition of the vehicle determines its end of use. When the bus is deemed too old for public transportation, it makes its last journey to a metal scrap yard.

In January, Sims Metal in Pennsylvania, welcomed 50 old buses that, at the end of this last journey, will get a brand new life as something else.

The new journey of these buses officially starts here. Every single bus makes its way to Sims Metal scrap yard, carried on a hauling truck.

Once the bus is delivered, it is inspected for hazards such as fluids, gases, catalytic converter, batteries, radiator, fire extinguishers and also the tires, which are all safely removed. The bus is now considered depolluted and is safe to move on to the next step.

This is where the fun begins, the bus is now ready to be crushed with a crash crane!

The crushed material is ready to be shredded. Through the shredding process, the crushed material is reduced into smaller pieces which will go through a very sophisticated separation process to recover the ferrous and non-ferrous metals and also the other materials such as plastics and foam.

Once the steel, aluminum, plastic and all of the other materials are recovered from the buses, it is now time to prepare the materials for further recycling!

Shipped nationwide and worldwide, recycled metals will be reintroduced as raw materials in the manufacturing process, which means thousands of new goods coming to life. What seemed to be the end of 50 buses is, instead, the start of thousands of new beginnings.

Learn more about our processing capabilities.

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At Sims Metal, we are committed to tackling this stereotype head on by inspiring more women to consider a career in this industry.

In the last few years, more women have joined the metal recycling industry and are achieving success. Anna Tompkins, Commercial Director at Sims Metal, is one of those.

Her story is a great example of how the metal recycling industry can be incredibly welcoming, inspiring and exciting for women, as well as for men.

Anna has been working in this industry for 18 years. Thanks to her talent, combined with support from her mentors and colleagues, she has accomplished a rewarding career.

Not only does Anna have a very fascinating story, but she is also an inspiration for future generations of women who wish to break the gender bias within this industry.

1. Hi Anna, please tell us about your career and your role at Sims. How long have you been working in the metal recycling industry?

“I joined this industry in 2004. I was hired by Montgomery Scrap Corporation in Rockville, MD as their first female scrap buyer. I had customer service and account management skills, but I didn’t know anything about scrap metal. Being new to the industry, I had to learn it all: logistics, some operations, and of course ferrous and non-ferrous buying. In 2007, Montgomery Scrap Corporation merged with a shredder in Baltimore called United Iron and Metal. That completely changed my view of ferrous buying. Around that time I was promoted to Client Relation Manager, and then I was later promoted to Director of Marketing. In 2020, I was appointed Vice President with overall responsibility for managing the commercial, customer service and marketing teams.

Throughout this time, I have always been part of the commercial buying team. In March 2022, Sims Metal acquired Atlantic Recycling Group, and my new title is Commercial Director.”

2. Why did you decide to join this industry?

“I started working for an Occupational Health company and Montgomery Scrap Corporation was one of my clients. I came in to meet the team, asked if I could get a tour, and I immediately fell in love. A few weeks later, they asked me to come back, but I didn’t know it was for an interview! They made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse, and they told me what I still tell people: “you’ll know in nine months if this business is for you. You’re either going to love it and stay, or you’re going to move on.” At that moment, I thought I was going to move on. I had a five-year plan, and this industry was not part of it – but here I am. Because it’s been such an unusual, but fulfilling path, I really believe that I have an obligation to be an ambassador for the metal industry and tell women how fantastic it can be.”

3. What are the obstacles preventing women from pursuing a career in this industry? What do you think stops them?

“The scrap metal industry is not generally viewed as a very glamourous industry. Additionally, many potential employees have little scrap metal experience. The way we create job postings can play a critical role in overcoming this. By being clear that we are hiring for skill set, not scrap knowledge, we can really encourage diversity in prospective employees, which will create a more diverse workforce. One thing that I believe about Sims Metal is that everyone will be given the resources and support needed to succeed, and grow.”

4. Do you think things have changed over the last few years? If so, how?

“Yes, they have, and I have seen it firsthand. I have seen many young and adult women given great opportunities into these businesses over the years. They’re coming in with a tremendous amount of education and confidence and I really think that this is a sign of good things to come. Progress has been made, but there is much more work to be done.”

5. How has Sims made you feel welcomed in the company?

“I have been supported in this company from the top-down. Every person I have encountered – Vincent Marinaro, VP Non-Ferrous, Steve Fisher, VP Supplier Services – have been professional and helpful. The women in this organization are remarkable. From Vania Grandi the VP of Global Buy Force to Stela Carvalho, Office Manager, their insights and guidance have been incredibly valuable.

Joe Payesko, Chief Commercial Officer, has also been extremely supportive of me, and he has made sure that I feel heard and included – and the list goes on and on.”

6. I know you’re part of the “Association of Women in the Metal Industries.” Why did you decide to join them and how do you think this association supports the advancement of women in the metal industry?

“I joined AWMI in 2011 because even though I had a fabulous employer who was supporting me, everywhere I went there was nobody like me. My bosses, peers and customers were male. I knew that I needed a place where I could be given networking, educational and mentoring opportunities from other women; that’s why I initially joined and it was one of the best professional decisions I have made to date. AWMI’s mission is to provide women in this industry with networking, growth, educational and mentoring opportunities. These are often in short supply, particularly in scrap yards, mills, service centers and distributors where the workforce tends to be mostly male.”

7. What’s your role in the association?

“I am part of the international board of directors and currently hold the position of Marketing Chair. They asked me to serve as a VP when my chair is up in 2023 with the expectation that I will become the president of the organization. This will give me the chance to reach out to as many women as possible not only at AWMI, but also at Sims. I look forward to representing Sims on this platform as I believe that we should be working together to continue making the progress that our industry needs to see around diversity and inclusion.”

We are so thankful that Anna shared her story with us. We hope she can be an inspiration for all women around the world who wish to start a career in this industry.

At Sims Metal, we are working hard to make sure everyone feels welcomed, valued and supported. Our parent company, Sims Limited, is actively investing in women. For example, in 2021, the company launched a coaching and development program, Women Leading @ Sims, to support the next generation of women leaders across all business divisions.

Sims is not only committed to supporting women, but also every other employee regardless their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, or religion. We foster a work environment where difference is not only accepted, but also valued and supported.

The post Break the Gender Bias – Anna Tompkins, Commercial Director at Sims Metal, Tells Her Story appeared first on Sims Metal.

Here are 5 steps to get more money for your scrap metal while disposing safely and responsibly:

• Identify the metal. Ferrous or Non-Ferrous?This is the first step, try to understand if your scrap metal is a ferrous or non-ferrous metal; if it is a ferrous metal it will contain iron and if it is non-ferrous it will not. You will need a magnet for this step; if the magnet sticks to your scrap, it is likely to be ferrous metal. Note: non-ferrous metals are usually the more profitable ones!
• Clean your metal. Try to remove, wherever it is possible extra attachments on the metal, such us other metals or other materials like plastic, for example. If your scrap metal has other materials attached to it, it may be downgraded.
• Sort your metal by type. If you have different metals, separate them and put them into different containers. If you bring mixed metal to a scrap yard, you may only get paid for the value of the least valuable metal in your container. Your aluminum, copper, iron, steel scrap need to be separated!
• Find a local scrap yard. Look no further for this. Visit our location page to find the closest Sims Metal site to you.
• Ask for a quote. Get in touch with us. Provide us with all the information about you and your scrap by completing the enquiry form.

Pro Tip: To get a more accurate quote, upload as many pictures as possible and provide us with an approximate weight of your scrap metal. The more information you provide us with, the better we can make our service fits your needs. In some instances, for example, you won’t need to come visit our site, but we’ll collect the scrap metal from you!

… And it’s done! Once you get in touch with us we’ll connect with you to answer any questions and provide a quote.

What are you waiting for?

Go grab your magnet!

Download the infographic below as a reminder when scrapping your metal items with us!

The post Get More Money for Your Scrap Metal in 5 Simple Steps appeared first on Sims Metal.