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About us
Part of ArcelorMittal
Smarter steels for people and planet
As part of the ArcelorMittal Group, we have direct access to final recycling smelting facilities offering us an unrivalled Single Step Duty of Care Assurance unmatched by our peers which allows us to offer a service which minimises environmental risk, whilst maximising the economic return to our customers.
Our process
John Lawrie Metals are the largest metal recycler in the North East of Scotland. Operating from three core locations in Aberdeen, Evanton, and Lerwick, we are able to offer the recycling of all types of scrap metal across the North East and beyond.
Sustainability
Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle
Most of the world’s markets operate in a Linear Economy– items are manufactured, used, and then discarded. This is only sustainable with infinite resources, or on an earth with infinite regenerative capacity. Unfortunately we have neither and a move to a circular economy must happen.
In a Circular Economy, materials are designed and manufactured with reusability, repair, or recycling in mind. A Circular Economy moves us away from the “use-once and throw away” mindset and forces us to think from the start about how we extend the lifespan of an item or recycle it.
The ability to re-use, repurpose, or recycle an item saves significant amounts of natural resources, energy, and the environmental impact that goes with obtaining the raw materials in the first place. Our current consumption of resources is unsustainable. With some resources, such as precious metals and rare earth minerals, our current demand for these for use in batteries for example requires us to be thinking about how we recycle such items to recover the raw materials for their continued manufacture.
Metal is one of the few resources which is infinitely recyclable so it is vital that we all take steps to ensure that it is collected and prevented from entering any disposal routes. Steel manufacture has historically been one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, in 2021 accounting for 10.5% of global CO2 emissions. By increasing the use of scrap steel as a raw material and preferentially selecting innovative Electric Arc Furnace smelting technology powered by renewable energy, this figure can be massively reduced. John Lawrie Metals collect and segregate all types of metal, processing them using the latest high efficiency, low emission equipment, and then directing them for final recycling. As part of the ArcelorMittal group, this provides us with access to a number of final recycling locations, and in particular, to facilities operating Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) powered by 100% sourced and assured renewable energy. By feeding these with 100% scrap metal, the resulting steel has been shown to have a carbon footprint some 66% less than that of traditional recycled steel, and around 15% of virgin steel produced using iron ore in blast furnaces.
Strategically located
As the largest scrap metal recycler in the North-East of Scotland, we have scrap metal yards and metal recycling locations strategically located across Scotland.
Management team
Dave Weston has 40 years’ experience working within the scrap metal industry. His priority is to provide exceptional customer service, and his knowledge and expertise of the metal recycling business is widely recognised by his industry peers and customers alike. Dave is also a Board Member of the British Metals Recycling Association.
Careers
Join our team and help shape the future of metals
If you are interested in pursuing a career with John Lawrie please submit your CV to recruitment@johnlawrie.com
HSSEQ
Safety sits are the heart of everything we do at John Lawrie Metals.
John Lawrie Metals operate an Integrated Management System certified to ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001, and ISO50001 standards. We were the first metal recycling business in Scotland to achieve the ISO50001 Energy Management certification, having chosen to take this on as part of our constant drive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.
Routine tasks are carried out in accordance with written Standard Operating Procedures and formal Risk Assessments, with dedicated workpacks being produced for all decommissioning and project work.
Affiliates
The voice of the UK metals recycling industry. The British Metals Recycling Association is the only trade association representing all metal recyclers in the UK.
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation which sits at the heart of the North-east business community. We create the connections which grow our local economy through our events, policy work, news platforms, research, training and international documentation services. We have over 1,300 members who collectively employ over 100,000 people in the region.
EuRIC is the leading voice for a competitive European recycling industry, enabling the circular economy and preserving resources for future generations.
The Bureau of International Recycling promotes materials recycling and facilitates free and fair trade of recyclables in a sustainable and competitive world economy.
OEUK is the leading representative body for the UK offshore energy industry, a not for profit membership organisation with a history stretching back five decades.
Decom Mission is the only trade organisation solely focused upon late life and decommissioning.
