By: Deedee El bego
USA Recycling is a family owned and operated scrap metal recycling business that is steadily expanding due to brothers Alexis and Ulises Rayas, and their unwavering motivation. USA Recycling was opened in April of 2016 by their father but since he recently retired, the brothers have been working full time to operate and grow the business.
The Rayas family posing for a family photo, (Courtesy of Alexis Rayas).
Currently they are applying for licenses that will allow them to start buying and selling cars. By accepting car parts and selling them they can make more money, but they also won’t have to turn away people that bring them anymore.
“My brother, Ulises, is gifted in numbers and I’m more about vision testing, making things happen and accelerating. I’m more of a dreamer in that way,” said Alexis Rayas, 31.
“When I worked at other jobs I would always think of ways things can be done more efficiently but I would feel restricted. Yet, over the years my family keeps taking real chances on me. It’s encouraging and has always been a boost of confidence, especially when they would say my ideas helped them alot,” He added.
The biggest obstacle right now for Alexis and Ulises is that obtaining the licenses needed is difficult to do if you aren’t already a large established company in Chicago. It’s a long complicated process due to the city’s zoning laws, community approval meetings, and obtaining approval from the Environmental Protection Agency of Chicago.
Despite knowing this, a determined Alexis and Ulises visited Chicago’s City Hall with all the paperwork they needed to obtain their licenses.
Even though they had everything prepared they were rejected due to the city’s zoning regulations.
They took the rejection with their heads held high and decided that they aren’t going to give up yet. The brothers remain hopeful and are planning on continuing to discuss USA Recycling’s future plans with the Alderman of the 18th Ward, Derrick G. Curtis so that they can finally get approved.
Their current peak production is about 5-6 truckloads per day, or about 13-15 tons of scrap metal. Some people might think that there might be less scrap metal to accumulate as the temperature drops but Ulises says that many in their community collect scrap metal full time in order to feed their families.
A full lot of scrap metal ready to be sorted. Photo courtesy of Alexis Rayas.
Locals appreciate having a trustworthy, nearby place to go. This is why the brothers have made it part of their mission to recognize their community and make sure they always pay them fairly for the scrap metal they bring in.
Following a decade of hard work paved by their father, the brothers are more determined than ever to keep pushing forward as Alexis continues to paint a vivid picture of USA Recycling’s future.