About Us

Learn more about our company values and history

Our Team

Ed Rathe

Owner – General Manager

Ben Rathe

Owner – Operations Manager

“bobby”

Head of Security

Our Mission

Whether you’re a high-volume scrap metal producer or scrapping a car for the first time, our goal is simple: to make the process safe, easy, and hassle-free. At Rathe’s, our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help—no matter the size of the job. Our 20-acre recycling facility is conveniently located right off I-89 in Colchester. Give us a call, fill out our form, or stop by—we’d love to work with you!

Competitive Pricing

Convenient Location

Helpful Staff

Over 55 Years in Business

Our History

Rathe’s Salvage is a third generation family business that was founded in 1969. What started as a family pig farm in the 1950’s transitioned into the “Rathe Brothers” landfill in the mid 1960’s and 1970’s. When the landfill eventually hit capacity it was closed and what remained was a salvage yard. During the 1980’s and 1990’s Rathe’s became one of the largest “pick and pull” salvage yards in Vermont, with thousands of cars in our inventory.

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s Rathe’s transitioned into what it is today, a full service metal recycling facility, with excavators, a car crusher, and many other pieces of equipment. While our business operations have changed over time, our values haven’t. Providing strong customer service with honesty and integrity is what has kept our business open for over 55 years. We would like to thank all of our customers, for their continued support throughout the years.

Ever wonder how to pronounce our name?… Well to be honest you are not the first, we’re used to it! Rathe’s is pronounced “Ratty’s” and it’s as easy as that!

Have Questions or Need an Estimate?

See Why Our Customers Trust Us

Rathe's Metal Recycling

4.7Out of 5 stars

Overall rating out of 277 Google reviews Verified by

Ryan Garrow
3 days ago

Great experience. Needed my old car gone and Ben took care of it within hours of my initial quote. Very pleased with this business.

Mark Picard
3 days ago

Love this place I’ve been coming here for years and Regina is great

Thomas Shedrick
3 days ago

Regina is the best to work with!

Talon Tokesvt
4 days ago

Great people kind

Dakota Parker-Senna
Edited 4 days ago

Been here forever and always do great business!

Janelle Thibodeau
a week ago

Great place to come, nice people!

Brian Avery
3 weeks ago

Great to stop in at the trailer and see Armond & Eddie. My old stomping grounds ! Great place and memories.

Cindy Delorme
3 weeks ago

Great prices would recommend

Sharon Boucher
Edited a month ago

Awesome team

Jeff O'Hara
a month ago

Ben was incredibly to work with- prompt, accommodating, and timely. Can’t recommend using Rathe’s enough.

Jesse Lasnier
a month ago

I love rather salvage they have always treated me right over my 33 years of coming here

Leslie
a month ago

The best scrap yard in Vermont sorry to see him close

Brandan Martinez
a month ago

Been coming here since a kid always been great service and very helpful

Louis Adams (Funni)
a month ago

Always finding what I needed with great service!

LonelyGamer 245
a month ago

Easy to work with, quick and easy process. Definitely would come back!

Tom Murphy
a month ago

Great customer service!

Allie Anderson
a month ago

Had to finally say goodbye to my 2008 CRV but I wanted to keep my rims and tires and they were nice enough to remove them for me AND pay me for the rest of it! Couldn't be happier. Thanks everyone, you made my day!

travis young
a month ago

If you want honest and hardworking, go see Eddie and Ben. Fair pricing, GO TO RATHES!!!

Jesse Rowe
2 months ago

Nice and easy drop off for scrap. People there were very nice and helpful.

Vitor Mori
2 months ago

Great service. Very smooth process. They called us back quickly and the drop off was very quick. Totally recommend

chase schomp
2 months ago

Sold a van here, they are efficient and no hassle! Would sell again!

Sheila Dodd
2 months ago

They were great to work with. They were responsive to my questions and knew exactly what needed to be done to remove an old camper I had in my yard. I will not hesitate to call them again if the need arises!

david jones
2 months ago

Very helpful, pleasant people. Organized, large selection. Very friendly Love coming here

Takorian Hackney
2 months ago

It great! Awesome service quick response! And helped me tremendously!! Thanks to Ben and his team!!

William Eaton
3 months ago

I sold my catalytic converter to Rathe's and they gave me top dollar. They processed me in and out quickly and wrote me a check on the spot. The staff were friendly and professional. I highly recommend these guys for your reclamation needs.

Michael Oakes
3 months ago

Can’t believe I haven’t been using these guys before now!! So easy and clean cut. Everyone on site is super friendly! Wish there was more than 5 stars!!

nathan miller
3 months ago

Grate customer service and vary friendly

Michael Maynard
3 months ago

Excellent service, always helps me immediately. Love these guys

Andrea Parker-Hunton
3 months ago

Great place to find used cars….I’ve been coming here for years! I’m always treated fairly here. I’ve been coming here since I was a child, with my father.

Stern Man
3 months ago

Rathe’s salvage was absolutely fantastic to work with. I ran over a nail in there lot with my hydraulic trailer when delivering a boat and they didn’t hesitate to fix it. The guys there were eager and willing to help me unload and were even willing to go under the trailer so I didn’t have to due to the ground being a bit muddy. I would recommend them to anyone! Not to mention the manors! They are polite and respectful. I’m looking forward to working with them again.

Marcie Whittemore
4 months ago

Very pleasent and helpful

Toddster
4 months ago

Great place and prices

Cory Collins
4 months ago

Best Customer Service and scrap Prices around

Shannon Marie
4 months ago

miss pulling parts but excellent service

Michael Dulude
4 months ago

Great experience scrapping metal!

Ethan Walters
Edited 4 months ago

Good service and has been helpful multiple times, especially for selling copper. Easiest to work with in the area. Great scap place

Thurston Swarthout
4 months ago

Awesome customer service, great team. Always reccomended

Pj Lefebvre
5 months ago

Awesome people known for them all since I was a baby

jake baggs
5 months ago

They were quick, polite and helpful. Ty folks again!

Brooks Suarez
5 months ago

Good prices and great service.

Ken Howell
5 months ago

Ben was professional throughout. He was fair, and promptly came for our car. I highly recommend Rathe's Salvage

Charles Blanchard
6 months ago

Amazing people and really nice people that work here

Joey Kale
6 months ago

Excellent service! I love this place!

Fatma Ibrahim
6 months ago

They were very understanding and easy to communicate with. They made the process very simple and stress free. I would recommend these amazing guys to my family, friends, neighbors basically I would recommend them to anybody that needs this kind of service and doesn’t want the process to be stressful.these guys deserve more than 5 stars to be honest … thank you guys

Carl Andrews
Edited 7 months ago

Great place to go great people very polite and going here since I was a kid and I've never had any issues with anything I can't say enough good things about them they definitely treat me like family

Mitch Coulter
7 months ago

Excellent service

Chuong Sullivan
8 months ago

My vehicle had broken down and needed to be towed. Gave Ben a call and he was able to set up a time for the tow and a fair estimate on the car! It was a super easy process and Ben was very nice! I would definitely work with them again!

wayne McAllister
8 months ago

Great place very nice lady

Zeliana Marie
8 months ago

Great place to scrap metal my number one choice..

Brian Bohannon
Edited 8 months ago

Always a good place to go! They are kind and will help you no matter what.

Megan Yanney
9 months ago

Efficient, professional, friendly and great to work with- recommended

Jacob Ian Ireland
9 months ago

Had a dead car sit in a garage spot for over a year since other tow companies couldn’t figure out how to remove it with how close it was to main building-Rathes came by and had it gone within 30 mins, super easy and with a smile

Angie
9 months ago

Great company!!

Fallon Haskins
9 months ago

They do a great job . Very nice customer service ❤️

Dan Maurice
9 months ago

Scrappin’s finest

kyle mcrae
9 months ago

Very friendly staff. Very efficient and easy to deal with. I have come here multiple times and have had a very good and friendly experience. Highly recommend over all other scrap yards that I’ve been too, hands down.

Dennis Bouldin
10 months ago

Left car to be scrapped. Very efficient and friendly (Reggina)

gabi gordon
10 months ago

Super easy to work with!

Robert Gay
10 months ago

Filled out the online form in the morning, junk car was gone by evening. Made it easy and pleasant to remove a problem from my plate. Thanks Ben!

Clayton McMahon
10 months ago

Great people very helpful! I highly recommend rathes salvage!

Carol Layton
10 months ago

Never have given me any problems and always treated with respect.

Phelan Alber
Edited 10 months ago

Friendly staff, good prices on scrap metal return. All around good experience

David Audette
11 months ago

Super friendly staff! Very fair pricing! Highly recommend going to them…

Nathan Farnham
11 months ago

Great company to do business with.

Doug Batchelder
11 months ago

Best salvage yard to deal with hands down.

Curtis Partlow
11 months ago

I will always bring my brass or all metal recycling to Rathes fair pricing and friendly staff

Elizabeth Lamphere
11 months ago

They treat us very well

R Verbitis
11 months ago

Rathe'a metal recycling center is awesome. It is conveniently located close to Burlington and it's hours are very business friendly. . I love that I am able to recycle my old metal waste that my father has collected for 60 years. Added bonus, I get to converse with Regina on the intercom who operates the the weigh scales and checks you in and out. Great service w great people. It doesn't get any better than that. Roger Verville

Aaron Baltusis
11 months ago

Great service!

Katherine Armstrong
11 months ago

Very easy and friendly service!!! Called in the morning, and they came and picked up my car within a few hours. Quick transaction, left with some money and one less problem. Highly recommend :)!!

Travis Larkin
11 months ago

Showed up on time, super communicative. Very easy to get rid of my car. Thanks Rathes! Would definitely recommend.

Todd C. MacKenzie
11 months ago

I have been a happy customer at Rathe's salvage for 35 years. It’s been great every visit while wandering the yard looking for parts. Great work folks!

Rachael Brock
11 months ago

Quick, easy & efficient pick up and towing of my car that I needed to get rid of! Would definitely use their service again if needed!

Nick “datpersonfromvt” Webb
Edited a year ago

They love my junk and always give good money for my junk

Mike Millette
a year ago

Customer service is 5 star. Always helpful and willing to give you the best price for your scape metal!

Kyle Lam
a year ago

Great experience, quick and simple transaction. Great way to get rid of old metal laying around and make couple dollars at same time!