Sims presses for law to curb illegal recyclables

Dec 31, 2012 | 11:39 AM | Samuel Frizell

Tags  Sims Metal Mangagement, Sims Municipal Recycling, scrap scavenging, New York City Department of Sanitation, Ron Gonen, Tom Outerbridge, Samuel Frizell

NEW YORK — Scavengers who illegally raid recyclables by the bagful from New York City sidewalks could face much higher penalties—and Sims Metal Management Ltd. could reap the benefits—if a proposed law is passed.

The New York City Department of Sanitation collects hundreds of thousands of tons of recyclable material from city streets every year and sells it to Sims Municipal Recycling, a subsidiary of Sims Metal Management. But sanitation department officials and Sims Municipal Recycling claim they’re not getting as much recyclable material as they should be, resulting in tangible losses to the bottom line.

According to the sanitation department and Sims, pilferers appear to be working with criminal syndicates to steal significant quantities of recyclables—including large items like refrigerators and washing machines—off the streets each day, reducing Sims’ scrap supply and costing the city what it estimates to be about $4 million to $6 million each year.....