Global market, local biz

COMING BACK AROUND: Now a recycling company that works in 30 international markets, Miller Recycling Corp. got its start in 1942 as a
COMING BACK AROUND: Now a recycling company that works in 30 international markets, Miller Recycling Corp. got its start in 1942 as a "junk dealer." Above, third-generation owner Randy Miller, at the firm's Mansfield warehouse. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Randy Miller is an astute evaluator of global markets.

Off the top of his head, Miller can tell you which countries are economically depressed and which are bullish. He can list the ever-changing costs of different types of commodities. He has a keen sense of industry trends.

He’s been developing these skills since the age of 16, when he started working at the family recycling business, now called Miller Recycling Corp., headquartered in Mansfield.

“We probably sell to 20 to 30 different markets,” Miller said. “We might sell this month to China and in three months the market might back off, and we sell to the U.S. or Canada. It depends on what kind of market is the strongest, where it’s handled and who is buying at what price.”

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Miller’s grandfather started the company in 1942 as Frank Miller & Sons. Known at the time not as a recycler, but rather the local “junk dealer,” Frank Miller started buying and selling everything from scrap metals and paper, to cardboards, plastics and other commodities. The business was eventually handed off to Randy Miller’s father before Randy assumed control about 27 years ago.

The business grew so much, Miller says, that 11 years ago it outgrew its first home in North Attleboro and Miller moved it to Mansfield, allowing to further grow volume more than 30 percent.

The one-time “junk dealer” business now takes in commodities totaling anywhere between 4,000 to 4,500 tons per month and exceeds $10 million in annual sales.

Miller says the type of commodities he buys and sells hasn’t changed much over his 37-plus years working in recycling, but in recent years there’s been a decline in the overall volume of paper – aided by a steady decline in newspapers – and a growing volume of e-waste.

Otherwise, he says, not much has changed.

“There’s not a lot of new commodities and there haven’t been for years,” Miller said. “It’s a challenging industry and we run the cycle of the economy.

“Unfortunately, a lot of this business is reactive, but we try to anticipate the market and we get a lot of feedback from our buyers … so we can try to anticipate [market changes],” he added.

He recently purchased a 150-horsepower confidential shredding machine equipped with 24-hour video and security monitoring for companies who want to dispose of confidential files, documents and off-spec products to keep and expand diversified revenue streams.

He’s also installed a 1,200-panel solar energy system, which on a good day saves him about 60 percent on electricity costs. Throughout the year, he says, it saves him a netted amount of about 40 percent.

Looking forward, Miller has a son named Ryan Miller who’s learning the ropes of the business. Randy Miller is now teaching him the skills needed in the event that one day he wants to become the fourth-generation Miller to run the business.

“He’s shown interest,” Randy Miller said. “He’s learning the new commodities and the intricacies of the business. I’ve been lucky enough that this has been my only job. … It’s been good, and I hope I can pass it on to my son.” •

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