Monday
17Aug2009
Finally, A Solution To Scrap Metal Theft
Mon, August 17, 2009 at 21:35
Or, Big Brother Clamps Down?
RecycleBill's home state of North Carolina has enacted several new regulations set to go into effect on October 1, 2009. Among them is a fingerprint requirement for sellers of scrap metals and a $100.oo limit on cash payouts. The latter is already company policy at my day job so that won't change for me.
One large Midwestern recycler has eliminated cash altogether, offering only checks and their own prepaid Visa cards. I shudder to think what this might cost but if an industry wide card were made available scrap metal thefts could be reduced to a manageable level in short order.
Of course, the black market of stolen metal launderers would still exist but at least the recycling centers like the one I help manage wouldn't be getting the blame for a problem most of us are working hard to solve.
If someone were willing to offer a nationwide card available to recyclers everywhere at an affordable price they just might create a great green business start-up.
RecycleBill's home state of North Carolina has enacted several new regulations set to go into effect on October 1, 2009. Among them is a fingerprint requirement for sellers of scrap metals and a $100.oo limit on cash payouts. The latter is already company policy at my day job so that won't change for me.
One large Midwestern recycler has eliminated cash altogether, offering only checks and their own prepaid Visa cards. I shudder to think what this might cost but if an industry wide card were made available scrap metal thefts could be reduced to a manageable level in short order.
Of course, the black market of stolen metal launderers would still exist but at least the recycling centers like the one I help manage wouldn't be getting the blame for a problem most of us are working hard to solve.
If someone were willing to offer a nationwide card available to recyclers everywhere at an affordable price they just might create a great green business start-up.
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Reader Comments (2)
"at least the recycling centers like the one I help manage wouldn't be getting the blame for a problem most of us are working hard to solve. "
This is the only silver lining I have found in using these regulations for the last 10 months. Of course I haven't received any stolen goods yet. *fingers crossed*
It has a lot to do with the neighborhood you're located in. I've bought lots of stolen metals but have also helped police lock away the thieves who sold it to me.
In more than one case I reported suspected stolen property to the police who then told me to keep buying from the same people while keeping a running inventory of what that person sells us. This allowed police to multiply misdemeanor offenses until the became felonies locking the thieves away for years instead of just over night.