The Four P’s for Converter Recycling Profitablilty

At United Catalyst Corporation, we are on a mission. Getting the Most from Your Converters with A Process You Can Trust. For those of us that work at United Catalyst, and for the recyclers we serve, it is as simple as four Ps:

  • A Process you can trust
  • A Program you can trust
  • A Partner you can trust
  • The Power of education

A Process You Can Trust
How much money do you want from your converters? Your answer should be, all of it. Did you know there is only one way to get all the value from a converter and that is by destroying it: de-can, mill, sample, assay, smelt, and extract or refine the platinum, palladium, and rhodium out of the catalyst. The way to get all the value from the converter is to sell it on this Process called assay-based selling. An assay is a test result from a sample that, if done correctly, yields the highest result.

A Program You Can Trust
An assay-based selling Program benefits you the recycler if: One, the results of the test are true and accurate of the converters you sent in; Two, if the recycling costs are reasonable and customary; Three, if the metals are sold at a fair market price. When you sell converters based on this Process and a fair Program you are getting the true value out of each scrap catalytic converter regardless of wear and tear on the unit or grading category. In this Program it doesn’t matter what car the converter came from or how many miles the vehicle had; whatever precious metal contained in that converter will be recovered and paid on.

A Partner You Can Trust
In an industry that has historically been rife with smoke and mirrors, as recyclers looking to get the most from your converters, you need a Process you can trust, a Program you can trust, and a Partner you can trust.

Trust /trast/ noun 
1. firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

You see you can do everything right. You can sell on assay instead of selling by the piece. You can have great terms and pricing. But if you do not have a reputable partner that you can trust, you could still be losing. President Ronald Reagan on multiple occasions used the Russian proverb, Trust but verify, in the context of nuclear disarmament. The same holds true in our part of the recycling industry.

The Power of Education
At United Catalyst Corporation we believe that an educated recycler is our best customer. In fact, we give you an education in auto catalyst processing and precious metals refining. We take a complex process and make it understandable and easy to use. We know that once you learn about your converters and your yard profile, you will make more money, and no one will ever be able to take advantage of you again.

Recycling is a journey. We hope you will rely on us at United Catalyst to be your guide.

If you have questions about this article or any issue pertaining to the recovery of precious metals and materials from automotive recycling, we, at United Catalyst, are here to help you. United Catalyst Corporation is a processor of scrap catalytic converters that offers global refining services. Our recycling solutions are accurate, scientific, and verifiable to get you the most money.

To subscribe to our daily e-newsletter or get Platinum Group Metal prices texted twice daily to your phone, TEXT 60-Second or Daily to 864-834-2003. You can also call us or email us at sales@unitedcatalystcorporation.com.


Becky Berube serves the recycling community as President of United Catalyst Corporation, Co-Chair of the Automotive Recycling Association’s Events Advisory Committee, and is an ExCom Board Member of the International Precious Metals Institute. She can be reached at 864-834-2003 or by email at berube@unitedcatalystcorporation.com.