Curbside recycling theft on the increase

[arno]

A recycling bin awaiting curbside pickup doesn’t seem like an obvious location for a crime, but it often is in Northern California cities and in other locations throughout the country, reports the Associated Press.

The combination of a slow economy and higher prices for aluminum, cardboard and newsprint is contributing to the rise in curbside theft. In many instances, the robbers have organized into fleets of trucks, sweeping neighborhoods for valuable recyclables.

Many state and local authorities are seeking more stringent regulations to discourage theft because lost revenue can endanger recycling programs. Some cities already have laws against recycling bin poaching. Getting caught in San Fransisco could mean a fine of up to 500 dollars and six months in jail. In New York City, thieves are subject to arrest, vehicle impoundment and fines of up to 5,000 dollars. Authorities continue to pursue a solution to the growing problem.

States, cities cracking down on recycle thefts - Salt Lake Tribune

Interesting.

[suz1002]

Geez that sucks. Not too surprising though I guess but don't these bins have good locks and stuff to stop people fly tipping?

[bruce]

So basically just like Freecycle then? Recycling = going to a new home. Stealing = going to a new home. If folks are worried that they're being robbed of money then perhaps they should use eBay or something to sell their stuff rather than throwing it out.

[spadlet]

On the pluss side, the recycling programmes are evidently economic, which is something many people use to justify not recycling. Maybe it is indeed time to produce secure recepticles and a small payment to the person generating the recyclable material? It should certainly reduce the amount of recyclable material that's fly tipped.

Then it would be on a par with the children that used to collect used glass bottles and sell them to the shops for a penny a bottle for recycling, or something like that.

If only the same was to happen with plastic.....

[emz]

I wonder what kind of things people are leaving out? I guess if they're that concerned they could do as Bruce said and flog via eBay or take them to a charity shop or something.

[Wobs]

Or do what I've just done today, and take the scrap metal to the scrap yard myself for a bit of beer money.

Copper and brass is going for a few pound per kilo, and aluminium is varying in price quite a bit atm.

Having lockable boxes for recycleables would probably increase costs of collection, as binmen would have to unlock every box to empty it.

[Seablu003]

I'm in GA and don't have a recycling program where I can just leave it curbside. Instead I have to drive to drop off my recycling. I can do this at my local Whole Foods where I just take my recycling in when I do my shopping, but would LOVE to be able to just leave it at the curb and if someone wants my cans they can have them. They obviously need them more then myself.

[prashamk]

Originally Posted by arno

A recycling bin awaiting curbside pickup doesn’t seem like an obvious location for a crime, but it often is in Northern California cities and in other locations throughout the country, reports the Associated Press.

The combination of a slow economy and higher prices for aluminum, cardboard and newsprint is contributing to the rise in curbside theft. In many instances, the robbers have organized into fleets of trucks, sweeping neighborhoods for valuable recyclables.

Many state and local authorities are seeking more stringent regulations to discourage theft because lost revenue can endanger recycling programs. Some cities already have laws against recycling bin poaching. Getting caught in San Fransisco could mean a fine of up to 500 dollars and six months in jail. In New York City, thieves are subject to arrest, vehicle impoundment and fines of up to 5,000 dollars. Authorities continue to pursue a solution to the growing problem.

States, cities cracking down on recycle thefts - Salt Lake Tribune

Interesting.

I don't think that the thives should be fined too heavily. Under any circumstances what do you think they are doing with the stealed materials?

They are selling it to some recycling plant or are recycling themselves and then selling the product. So ultimately its lesser burden for the government.

Isn't it a new prospective.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by prashamk

I don't think that the thives should be fined too heavily. Under any circumstances what do you think they are doing with the stealed materials?

They are selling it to some recycling plant or are recycling themselves and then selling the product. So ultimately its lesser burden for the government.

Isn't it a new prospective.

There could be a problem prashank though, the valuable items might be what makes the pick up service viable. If too much gets taken out, leaving just the unvaluable crap, then the service could be either cancelled or peoples council rates are increased. So it could be classed as a transferred item, (to the council) that has been stolen.

[hoon]

There is a moral issue here though surely, as the people havn't given the thieves permission to take their stuff, whereas they have given permission to the bin men to take it. So whilst it may be spun that this is a useful service it's still wrong.