Silver Recovery Services

In 1970, after completing his time in the armed forces as a combat medic, the founder of our company decided to take that life experience along with his environmental law background to start a company that specialized in the recovery of silver from photographic films, primarily x-rays and lithographic films.

Back in the 70's, a silver recovery business was usually run by some guy dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt who entered a medical facility or printing company through the back door to find someone who would take some cash for some silver bearing films or silver recovery canisters. He would wave some cash in someone's face, take the material and only pay for a fraction of the value of what he was literally stealing from the company. Silver at that time had hit over $50.00 per troy ounce.

It didn't take long for our founder to approach this industry in a more professional way. Dressed in suit and tie and entering through the front door; he educated his customers as to the value of what they were generating in scrap and how best to recycle and comply with the current EPA laws as well as local sanitary discharge regulations.

To make the long story short, he was ultimately appointed as a panel member of the Federal EPA Task Force on Recycling for Region 5 and worked on committees for both the Illinois EPA as well as the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago. He developed a proprietary film washing operation that ultimately processed over 2 million pounds of assorted silver bearing films per month.

Mar-Cor Environmental Services became the largest silver recovery dealer and processor in the country. Their customer list included Polaroid, Fuji Film, Agfa Film, General Motors and most of the x-ray supply companies within the United States. Ultimately, they were approached by Eastman Kodak and became their largest supplier of external silver. They also shipped over seas millions of pounds of plastic base to be recycled into various clothing items.
After 25 years, digital photography became the new media and silver bearing films decreased in volume. The company was ultimately sold, but now the same silver recovery services and the expertise are still available to you through Precious Metal Refining Services, Inc.

Film scrap, silver flake, and silver recovery canisters are provided and processed for your benefit. The same basis of providing the education as well as the services continue to enhance our customer's bottom line.

We still believe in environmental responsibility and not environmental liability. Our environmental background together with over 25 years experience in the field of silver recovery make us the natural choice for a reputable, solid, reliable company to do your silver recovery.

Remember, that at Precious Metal Refining Services, Inc., your business truly is precious to us.