**A Scrap Life Podcast: Scrap vs Recycled Materials Debate**

**Brett Eart:** As you guys know, I don’t have a sponsor on this podcast, but today the game has changed. I’ve recently invested in a new technology that I believe can change the game for small and medium-sized scrap companies like us. Its name is Nikki, and it’s the last receptionist your scrapyard will ever need. I got tired of our company missing opportunities coming across the phone lines at all of our yards—calls we were paying for through advertising. We were asking our scale operators to do too much, but we couldn’t justify the payroll to have one person just sitting there answering phone calls. Now, Nikki answers the calls, directs the important ones to our buyers, and answers the basic questions right away. More importantly, Nikki doesn’t let big opportunities slip through the cracks while our team is taking care of the scale traffic and our customers. Probably the most important feature is the daily data call log for follow-ups, tracking, and details of every single call. More details coming soon. Stay tuned.

Welcome to A Scrap Life, a podcast solely focused on the hustlers, grinders, operators, and business owners who live and breathe the scrap metal industry every day. Here is your host, Brett Eart.

All right, a much anticipated episode of A Scrap Life. I’m sitting here with the man, the myth, the legend, John Sacco. We’ve been talking about having this conversation and debate for a while. It was scheduled for December, but some things came up and we had to push it back. I’m happy the way it worked out. I got John here in Idaho again after a few years. We’re here to discuss scrap versus recycled materials. I sit on the scrap side, obviously, and John is on the recycled Idaho side. I’m old school with the ability to go new school if necessary, but I hold onto the word “scrap.” John believes differently, and we’ll find out more about that. Thanks for coming out, John.

**John Sacco:** Brett, awesome to be here. Long overdue for this conversation. You’re in Idaho, I’m in California. The word “scrap” is quite fascinating in my world. To you, scrap has a completely different meaning and identity, but it’s a great debate. At the end of the day, we have so much common ground even though we’re going to debate why we have to use different words. It’s more dependent on those within the industry than just plain words.

**Brett:** I agree. From my standpoint, I believe there’s a reason to maintain the word “scrap” in our business. People got tired of the previous whitewashed ways and wanted to get back to where we came from. I’m old school but can adapt if needed. I struggle with letting go of the word “scrap” because I feel there’s inherent value in it.

**John:** I understand, but in California, “scrap” is perceived significantly differently, equated to theft and other negative connotations in terms of policy makers. We’ve been addressing these perceptions at a national level. I’ve been part of a committee that helped steer what we need to do as an industry. It’s about changing the game in terms of communication with policy makers and regulators.

**Brett:** When I think about scrap, I think about value. Scrap identifies value within the system, whereas recycled materials refer to the output. We need to keep emphasizing the value proposition of the word “scrap.” We are urban miners looking for value, creating revenue for individuals and businesses who deal and organize scrap into recycled products. If we change that, we start erasing history.

**John:** Every point you made is valid. However, in California, the word “scrap” puts us already into the waste category, and we have to address that. The language change to “recycled materials” opened doors in places like Sacramento, allowing us to have further conversations and victories in advocating for our industry.

**Brett:** I understand, John. However, changing industry names to what suits a few is taking away from a well-built history and an industry that built itself on playing offense, building enterprises that contributed significantly to the economy. Instead of enforcing government involvement, highlighting our industry’s value is imperative.

**John:** I get that, Brett. We underestimate the necessity of lobbying for both political parties. It’s essential to keep our influence across the political spectrum to maintain the industry’s interests despite policy changes with each election.

The conversation continues with an engaging debate on the significance of terms within the industry, the impact of political influence, and the essential role of communication with regulators, ultimately emphasizing the ongoing narrative and legacy of the scrap industry.