California metal recyclers are urging the state legislature to resurrect a bill that addresses metals theft statewide, cracking down on would-be thieves and making it easier for law enforcement to make arrests. The bill, AB844, failed in committee in June.
"California's metal recyclers have been ahead of the curve in seeking solutions to metals theft," said Dave Mitchell, president of the West Coast chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., and a senior buyer with Sims Metal in Redwood City.
"In addition to being early supporters of this legislation, our industry led the way with voluntary guidelines for scrap yards to reduce the chance of unintentionally accepting stolen materials and in working cooperatively with law enforcement and with other affected industries to find cooperative solutions to the problem," Mitchell said.
Leaders of the state's recycling industry supported AB844 with the exception of one provision added late in the legislative process that would allow local jurisdictions to adopt their own metal theft ordinances, effectively creating a patchwork of laws across the state.
"Recyclers themselves are often victims of metals theft," Mitchell continued. "We believe it is important to have strong laws that are enforced uniformly across California's 58 counties that truly address the crime and the criminals involved. A statewide solution is better for law enforcement and better for the hard working Californians who sell metals to recyclers legally and fairly every day."
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, West Coast Chapter represents 108 member companies in California operating more than 200 recycling facilities across the state.