The Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC’s) MRF Blended Value Study for the third quarter of 2020 shows a decrease in the overall value of curbside recycling materials during that time frame. The study covers the July to September time period with 11 states represented in the report, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

In the third quarter, the average commodity value per ton with the expense of handling residuals was $40.19. Without residuals, the average commodity value per ton was $46.83. NERC reports that these values are down about 21 percent compared with the previous quarter. During the previous quarter, which spanned from April to June, the average commodity value per ton with residuals was $51.23. Without residuals, the average commodity value per ton was $59.58.

According to NERC’s latest data, the average processing cost for material recovery facilities (MRFs) was $84 per ton. The association says that is a 12 percent decrease compared with the previous quarter.

The full report with charts is available online. NERC reports that it plans to produce a similar study for the October to December time frame.

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas (HCEA), Norcross, Georgia, has announced the expansion of its North American authorized dealer network with the addition of Livonia, Michigan-based Alta Equipment Co. Alta is a provider of industrial forklifts, heavy construction equipment and warehouse solutions. With six Hyundai dealerships across Illinois, HCEA says Alta Equipment Co. will be a valued addition to its North Central territory.

“I am very pleased to welcome Alta Equipment to the Hyundai Construction Equipment family. Alta believes in growing their business through excellent service and customer support and has made a huge commitment to the markets that they service throughout their footprint," says Ed Harseim, HCEA district manager – North Central. "Hyundai is committed to working with Alta to continue to grow the Hyundai brand name in Illinois by offering reliable products and services that provide a greater overall value to the customer.”

With the addition of this new dealership, Hyundai’s North American network now includes over 75 dealerships operating in just over 175 locations, offering sales, service, and parts for the full line of Hyundai excavators, wheel loaders, compaction rollers and other construction equipment.

Hyundai sales, service and parts teams deliver regular product and service training to ensure dealer partners are able to provide top-caliber support to meet the growing business needs of Hyundai Construction Equipment customers.

Oklahoma Sen. Chuck Hall has filed SB 1 as the first bill for the state’s 2021 legislative session. According to a news release from the Oklahoma Senate’s website, the measure is aimed at strengthening the state’s statutes on scrap metal theft.

SB 1, or the Sergeant Craig Johnson Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act, is named after a police officer from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who helped formulate the language for the bill but was killed in the line of duty. Hall says SB1 was introduced last year and was on track to make it to the governor’s desk, but after the pandemic shut down the state’s Capitol for a few weeks, it was one of several measures that did not make it through the process due to a shortened session.

According to a statement from the Oklahoma Senate, members of the scrap metal industry, municipalities and law enforcement officials had been working with Hall on the SB 1 proposal prior to the session, and Johnson was an active participant in crafting this legislation. Johnson died after being shot during a traffic stop in Tulsa in June.

“I was stunned and heartbroken by the news,” Hall says. “Although I had not known Sgt. Johnson long, it was clear he was a person who was passionate about public safety and public service. He made important contributions to our efforts to help us better address this crime. On at least one occasion, he visited me in my hometown of Perry. When we had the opportunity to refile the bill at the start of the 58th Legislature, I jumped at the chance to honor his life and service to his city, police department and our state.”

Hall says SB 1 “simplifies, clarifies and strengthens” the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act by grouping together all definitions, listing all regulated items, eliminating the duplicate language and enhancing statutory requirements that curtail metal theft.

“Scrap metal theft is a huge problem in our state, particularly copper wire theft,” he says. “This is a comprehensive approach to make sure all the relevant laws are in one place in the statutes and that any duplicate language is eliminated, making it easier for scrap metal dealers and other buyers to see exactly what is required to comply. It tightens the requirements for seller identification and adds remote storage batteries to the list of regulated materials. There was overwhelming support for this measure in the Senate last session, and I’m sure, if not for the pandemic, it would have made it to the governor’s desk.”

The 2021 session convenes Feb. 1.