About

About Repurposed

Why are we making Repurposed?

Have you ever heard the saying, "you wish someone would do something," and realized you are that somebody? Well, it's time to tell this story, so here's us doing the "something."

This documentary series is a story about recycling. Still, the fascinating part is that it has nothing to do with the residential recycling bin because 96% of all recycling in America has nothing to do with household recycling.

This series tells the story of industrial recycling, from residual metals, steel, copper, aluminum, and stainless, to newspapers and recycled cardboard. It follows as they are transformed into new steel, aluminum ingot, copper anodes, and paper products.

Without recycled material, nothing gets made. So the recycled materials industry is not only a necessity but also vital for our environment, it's critical for our infrastructure, and it's crucial for our everyday health. The products we use, and don't even think twice about, come from the recycled materials industry.

It's time for us to tell our story and correct the false narrative about our industry.

About the Host

Repurposed Host, John Sacco

John Sacco

Sierra International Machinery | Sierra Recycling & Demolition
ISRI National Past Chair (2010-12)
Bakersfield, CA

John Sacco, The Repurposed Series host, is a second-generation recycler, who is President and Co-Owner of Sierra International Machinery, an industry leader in the sale and support of processing equipment for the recycled materials and waste industries, and Vice President and Co-Owner of Sierra Recycling & Demolition, a Sacco family-owned recycling and demolition facility located in Bakersfield, California since 1959.

John also hosts the hit podcast Pile of Scrap, where he interviews industry leaders and goes behind the scenes of the recycling industry to offer insight into the world's 5th most dangerous industry.

As a past Chair of ISRI and Executive Committee member, Sacco has held numerous leadership positions within ISRI over the years. Including the Chair of the Leadership Committee; ISRI Resources board member; president of ISRI's Southwestern Chapter; Chair of the Member Services Committee; and Chair of the Chapter Presidents' Council.

Sacco graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing in 1984 and contributed to the inception of Sierra International Machinery shortly after.

About Sierra International Machinery

Sierra International Machinery is a worldwide leader in selling and supporting of processing equipment to the metal, recycling, and waste industries. As the only recycling equipment manufacturer that owns and operates a recycling facility, Sierra understands the challenges recycling professionals face. Therefore, Sierra’s most important responsibility is ensuring its customers have the right equipment to be profitable, achieved through firsthand experience, proven machines, and innovation. Sierra’s full range of equipment is built to meet the demands of today’s processing facilities and is backed by the best service and support in the industry.