ISRI says theft legislation falls short of addressing issue

Feb. 17 -- The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries has major problems with legislation introduced in Congress meant to address scrap metal theft.

Senate Bill 418, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Resolution 1006, introduced by Reps. Bart Stupak, D.-Mich., and Lee Terry, R-Neb., fall short of adequately addressing the issue, said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI.

The bills, called the Metal Theft Prevention Act, are targeted only at recyclers, placing heavy burdens on the scrap industry regarding payments and purchases. The bills inappropriately try to regulate recyclers without any relationship to metal theft, she said.

In short, Congress is putting the onus on recyclers for solving the problem instead of on the criminals who steal the metal and will not work, Wiener said. The bills must include penalties that target thieves and give law enforcement adequate incentives to train and establish partnerships with scrap recyclers, she said.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Joe Truini at 330-865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com