California is by far the most populous state in the U.S., with more people (40 million) than either Canada or Australia, and what would be the fifth-largest economy in the world if it were its own country.

As such a large state and economic powerhouse, California industry and consumers generate vast quantities of scrap metal every single day, and millions of tons per year – including more than 1.5 million cars and other vehicles (trucks, trailers, buses, railcars, etc.) each year that have outlived their useful life.

In addition to vehicles, the salvage/scrap metal stream includes millions of tons of large and small household appliances, metal furniture, water heaters, pipes and plumbing fixtures, metal siding, chain link fencing, wire, old tools, used equipment and machinery, shipping containers, and thousands of other objects (even the steel structure of the old Bay Bridge falls into this category).