Alco Iron & Metal Company

Our roots in the metal recycling industry date back to the early 1900s. In 1909, European immigrant Isador Lazar immigrated to Oakland, California and began working in the “junk” business. He collected metal and other junk by horse and wagon, and made a living by sorting and reselling the metal – one of the first forms of metal recycling. And so began our family’s metal recycling lineage.

In the early 1950s, the family split and Elton Kantor started Alco Iron & Metal Company. Established in 1953 and incorporated in 1972, Alco Iron & Metal Company began on just a quarter-acre piece of land in San Leandro, California. In the mid-1990s, Elton’s children took over and greatly expanded the business, taking Alco to a new level and establishing it as a leader in Northern California metal recycling. Alco has grown to 5 strategically positioned locations across Northern California with over 47 acres of land and employing over 200 people. Alco has always remained family-owned and operated, with the fifth generation of our family now joining the leadership team.

Alco is still evolving and growing. In recent years, Alco purchased modern equipment such as balers, shears, small shredders, and a wire chopper machine which helped further expand Alco’s business. Most recently, Alco installed a large metal shredder which significantly increased Alco’s ability to process scrap and positioned Alco for continued growth.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the future and eager to build on our rich legacy. With the continued support of our dedicated team and valued customers, we look forward to many more years of innovation and growth in the metal recycling industry. Thank you for being part of our journey.