Weitsman organization adds scrap industry veteran

Owego, New York-based Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman has announced the hiring of George Ostendorf as the new general manager of its of New Castle, Pennsylvania, shredding facility.

The company describes Ostendorf as “a tenured veteran in the metals recycling industry.” As general manager in New Castle, Ostendorf will be responsible for overseeing and managing all operations and employees at the location, which is a division of Upstate Shredding. He has been assigned to improve and enforce all company policies and practices, and ensure that industry standards are exceeded and will be directly involved in all aspects of the operation “by providing management and leadership, guaranteeing that the highest levels of ethical conduct and professional standards are maintained by all company personnel at all times,” says Upstate Shredding-Ben Weitsman in a press release.

“Mr. Ostendorf brings with him an excellent record of maximizing profitability, as well as cultivating and managing productive workforce teams -- skills he’s proven through his work at Metalico,” says Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate Shredding-Weitsman Recycling, referring to Ostendorf’s years with New Jersey-based scrap processing firm Metalico Inc.

“I’m confident his leadership will poise our New Castle operations for maximum success and efficiency, which will ultimately help position Upstate Shredding to further expand its feeder yard footprint into Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio,” adds Weitsman.

Prior to joining Upstate Shredding-Weitsman Recycling, Ostendorf spent nearly a decade with Metalico. During that time, he managed Metalico’s operations in Rochester and Buffalo, selling nonferrous metals and building dealer and industrial relationships. He oversaw 150 employees and helped generate $80 million in sales, according to his new employer. Five years ago, he moved to Austin, Texas, to open his own yard, Worth Metal Recycling. Ostendorf is a Buffalo native and says he’s excited to return to the Northeast, along with his family.

Upstate Shredding-Weitsman Recycling describes itself as the East Coast’s largest privately held scrap metal processor, operating 18 locations in New York and Pennsylvania. The company will process more than 1 million tons of ferrous and 250 million pounds of nonferrous scrap metal in 2017. Weitsman was honored as the top scrap recycling company in the world by S&P Platts Global in 2014 and 2016. The company also won the award for Scrap Company of the Year from American Metal Market in 2015 and 2016.