Hasta La Vista to Recycling Theft in California

Date: October 2, 2008

Source: News Room

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed a law to fight recycling theft. The legislation, AB1778, requires junk dealers and recyclers to pay by check and obtain identifying information from people who turn in more than $100 worth of California redemption value (CRV) containers or $50 worth of newspapers. The measure had been opposed by scrap dealers and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) on the grounds that it discourages recycling, puts an undue burden on dealers, and would do little to discourage malfeasance. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Abel Maldonado said it "simply requires scrap metal dealers to abide by the same rules that apply to pawnshop dealers." The law goes into effect on January 1, 2009. Violators will be subject to fines of up to $5,000.

info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1751-1800/ab_1778_bill_20080818_amended_sen_v95.html.

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