Stopped by to do something simple — recycle a few things, not save the world. Waited in line about ten minutes. When it finally got to me, the guy looked up, checked the clock, and decided 4:00 p.m. meant “nope.” Just shut it down, mid-line.
Didn’t want cash. Didn’t want credit. Just wanted to recycle. But the man clearly had bigger priorities — like getting outside to smoke a pile of cigarette butts he’d been thinking about since noon.
The place runs on fumes — zero energy, zero professionalism, zero care. “Action” Recycling might be the most misleading business name in the city. The only action happening here is the clock hitting quitting time.
If you’re hoping for effort, or even basic decency, look somewhere else.
Whoa… it was Saturday and the other places I usually go were closed. I called and the guy said to bring my load of mixed scrap and it would be 60 a ton. That’s significantly lower than anyplace else I go but I wanted my trailer empty so I took a load in, everyone was really nice and we unloaded about 3500 lbs of various metal. When I went up to get paid the guy gave me 24.00 and told me that’s what they pay for loads with tin. They fixed it and paid me what they said they would but why would they think that was ever ok? I haul very often and a load that size is 120-170 everyplace else Ive ever been. I assume it’s easy to rip someone off once in this business but this load proved that there is no trust or integrity to be earned for this business. The employees were all very nice.
My boyfriend and I went there yesterday 9-17-2025 and This place used to be super awesome when Larry worked the counter now they have this other long haired guy there who was incredibly inconsiderate he was surly and unprofessional we went in looking for a very specific thing found it was told we had 5 minutes to check out before closing we immediately went over to check out and then was told we couldn't purchase the part he told us too bad he was done cashing people out even tho he had just rang up the guy in front of us and it wasn't 430 yet, which is when they close but because he started his closing duties early he couldn't check us out he was so rude to us we will never go back there again if Larry was still working he would have either given us the board or charged us a nominal amount for it or whatever he would have been accommodating and made sure we got what we wanted before we left and the guy running the desk yesterday went out of his way to make sure that we did not get what we came for and did not care one bit about us as a customer it's fairly obvious that this guy does not like people I do not know why he has a job working around people.
Drove down from elk with a load of scrap that I needed to get rid of. Got there with 10 minutes to spare just to be told although there’s another 10 minutes. Nobody really wants to work. I work all week and have a short window to accomplish things like this. I’ll definitely be taking it elsewhere.
Just took my catalytic converters in off my truck.
I just wanted to say the guy that got me my price was helpful and professional and payed fair. The worker in the back is a hard worker. I dont know his name, but we where talking about the dallas cowboys and he scribe my vin # on the cats for me. I hope he gets a raise if he hasnt in awhile. These guys that get dirty and work are getting harder to come by. Id recommend action recycling most definitely
I have been coming here for years.
I no longer live in Spokane, and we do not have a recycling program where I live.
Looked on line today, wherever I looked said they close at 5. Nope they close at 4.
I drive over an hour, was still there well before 4.
Gate says closed.
A very rude kid with his cb at the gate saying they have no workers, I don't know what to tell ya,
Just super smug.
So, I call. Spoke to Glen. I tell him what I encounter, and he proceeds to tell me that there are 15 people there. (False it was nearly empty. I saw one vehicle)
I tell him bout the encounter with a foul mouth cocky kid at the gate. Glen says that because people are rude to him, he can be rude.
So... From what I understand is that we can be respectful, but we get to be talked to rude and nasty because other people hurt their feelings?
I will just throw my metal away where I live.
I care bout recycling, but not enough to drive over and hour and be treated like that by a kid with an attitude problem.
Years ago, at least 10 years ago now, I was witness to Action turning Brass into Gold!
No, this isn't about dishonesty, or anything illegal. Here goes:
On one typical busy day at Action, a scrapper was bringing in his load of scrap and after his #2 Copper, and whatever else he had brought in was tallied and he had been handed his cash, he was engulfed by the next two or three customers rushing to be next to turn in their scrap.
Before he pocketed his money he quickly counted it and noticed the employee behind the counter had given him $5 too much. Not even thinking twice, he came up to the side of the counter and asked, loud enough to be heard over all the customers, "Do you have a $5 for this $10?"
The employee behind the counter, obviously busy now with the next person in line says "In a minute!" and continues helping the next customer.
"You gave me $5 too much, If you have a $5, I'll give you back a $10", says the guy at the side of the counter.
Hearing this and finally comprehending what the guy was saying, the employee behind the counter's jaw dropped and as he turned toward the guy, obviously in complete disbelief, he slowly says "What.. did.. you.. just.. say"?
The guy repeats what he had said before, "You gave me too much money"
As his last word echoed off the back wall, you could literally hear a pin drop, yet the man was thinking nothing of the situation. And he started his car and drove off with a smile on his face, knowing he had done the right thing.
The following week or so, the next time the guy brought in scrap, it was "Guy Day!"
From the moment he backed into the unloading area, every employee in sight came to help him, not letting him lift a finger to haul what scrap he had brought in over to the scale.
Noticing he have 4 or 5 employees helping him, some who had left other customers to come over and help him, he was taken aback, knowing that something different and out of the norm, was going on.
Then when he started hearing the girl at the scale call out his load, for each grade of copper he had brought in he heard her call out the "#1 Brite and Shiny"! followed by the weight.
#2 Copper? –
"#1 Brite and Shiny" she calls out!
#2 Solid Copper?
again - "#1 Brite and Shiny"
Then as she comes to the last container, which contained the Brass he had brought in, he hears her call out "Low Yield Gold!" and then the weight from the scale.
This show of gratitude, from all the employees of Action Recycling, I will forever remember,
and I will be forever thankful!
Scott Ludwig
I think these folks made a mistake on the weight of our 5 full black leaf bags of crushed aluminum cans. They said there was only 84lbs! Conservatively, I would estimate each bag at 20 to 30 lbs of crushed aluminum cans. Granted there was a lot of confusion in the yard and I wasn’t watching the scale but $54 for 5 full leaf bags on crushed aluminum cans seems light. They asked if I was watching the scale? lol umm.. no I wasn’t, I didn’t know I had to watch the scale. I feel like they didn’t accurately weigh my bags or they deliberately shortened my weight but, I won’t come back here anymore that’s for sure. I just don’t trust them now.
Update:
I see that the owner responded and I appreciate that but what’s done is done. There no way of accurately determining how much is still owed. I tried to resolve it with the workers but they weren’t interested in finding out what happened so keep whatever monies that is still owed or bless one of your regulars who could use the money more than me and my family thank you and good luck.
I go to recycle my household's aluminum cans. Guys there make the process quick. As of 1/5/25, aluminum was 42 cents per lb and tin was 2 cents per lb.
Been here several different times throughout the past couple years and the employees are always very helpful and communicative. I've shown up 30 mins before closing and 5 mins before closing I've got in sometimes and sometimes I don't. The employees have always been very helpful from bringing me buckets to helping me sort out my copper not only that but they pay the best in town I highly recommend action recycling. If you have metal you want turned into money go to action recycling but be smart about show up atleast an hour before they close you are quarenteed to get in don't show up 5 min before closing and get mad cause you couldn't get in its common sense.
I give Action. Recycling Inc an unknown mystery rating of CAN CAN CAN YOU GET ANY BETTER
My son got there 20 min before closing today needing to do cans and having to go get hay afterwards the guy said nope we are not doing it today we are short staffed my son replied ill unload them and bring them over so you can just dump them action employee refused. I've been in customer service in many different industries and this is really poor service we will never go back.
Dudes there are dirty and shiesty.. they gave me aluminum can value for mirror finish, premium quality scrap from expensive shower enclosures.. and I'm pretty sure they gave wrong weight too. Never going back!
This place is total sketch. Stopped by to recycle a catalytic converter and the guy told me since it was aftermarket, and had a bad weld job on the pipe connecting to exhaust it was worth $3.00. Went to pacific and found out it was worth $54.00. Would do 0 stars if allowed.
In just a quick summary, a bunch of hard working men having fun and dedicated to their job. Great communication. When thinks seem to be getting a little chaotic, the guys leader, Larry, is fast at extinguishing the problem before it escalates.
I tip my hat off to these gentleman because rain or shine, cold or hot and sometimes a little of both, the boys at Action recycling are always nose deep at their respective position with amazing customer service skills to boot.
Thanks again guys for always answering my questions and finding a way to get me in and out in quality fashion. For anyone who wants to know, I brought in aluminum cans @ 45¢ per pound and bullet brass @ $1.60 pp. Hope this helps.
I come here alot for work. as an electrician our company recycles our copper and waste metals here. Love this place very fast and efficient. I come in about every two weeks. I also bring my own scrap from various ambitious failed shop projects. I have never been or felt cheated or disrespected. Every person here is working hard and they always treat me well. Customer for life.
The guys here are super helpful and easy to work with. The guy weighing was knowledgeable and very helpful. The guy behind the counter was good as well. For as many "interesting" people they see every day, they are always easy going yet, work their a$$es off!! I always appreciate your help and the business they run here is run well from what I've seen. I'll be back when I drink more cans of pop!! Lol. Thanks guys!
I’m not a professional scrapper, but have been there 3 times in the last couple of years. I have checked prices and have found them to be competitive. I also was impressed with employees giving me a quick education on metals and values. Very helpful without taking advantage of a novice. Thanks
Expect it to be closed earlier than stated because they're super lazy and must hate their jobs. They will all have a very poor me attitude be very rude and rip you off if you don't watch the scale. I was told this so I investigated myself and all three times different days of the week inquired an issue. First time scale weight was different than stated, second time closed early third time weight was stated under scale readings and came back five minutes before closing hours and it was closed.
My stated experiences are 100% accurate.
My suggestion is using a different recycling service Spokane had a few. If you still attempt to use this one don't show up around closing, expect horrible customer service they are very rude employees and watch the scale.
I actually enjoy taking my scrap here. Seem to have the best prices. Soon as we back in, they 9/10 help me unload it. They're always nice, and I cant understand the 1 star reviews. They have to follow the law or face being closed down. 5 stars from me!! Great job Action!!
I live down the street from Action Recycling and I couldn't even begin to guess how many hundreds of pounds of aluminum cans we've brought there. Everybody who works there is super nice and always helpful. Their prices are the best. And they have been wonderful neighbors, too. Recycling metals is, by it's nature, a messy business but they go out of their way to keep things neat and clean.
I've always liked this place. They're pretty quick and are always fair with me. Good guys who are polite and respectful are the type of employees I've dealt with there. They have various carts and other things to help you haul your scrap inside. May as well make money from your junk. It beats paying to bring it to the dump.
These guys are always super helpful. When my wife shows up they sort it and unload it for her(not that she minds doing it). Always have neat little things found while sorting up front to look at, and I usually get a 2 dollar bill when they pay me. Super nice bunch here!
Best prices for all metals especially precious gold and silver. Honest owners with a great knowledgeable staff. I compared prices with pawnshops, coin collectors, jewelers, and Action beat them. Especially the big pawnshop who only offers half price for silver and gold. I will be back many times
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