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New York City is cracking down on the brazen theft of tons of goods that occurs right out in public, practically on a schedule. The Department of Sanitation noticed that the volume of recyclable paper it was collecting was down 2% from the previous year - and in parts of Manhattan's East Side, the decline in paper pick-ups was 25%. That prompted an investigation that found that out of state unlicensed haulers were sneaking into the city and grabbing recyclables the night before their regular pick-up was scheduled. Law & Order: DOS Recycling Unit!
The heft of the theft is quite large. According to The New York Times, city officials estimate that 15,000 tons of recyclables are being grabbed off Manhattan's curbs alone every year. At prices that can range from $15 to $30 a ton, the city could be losing $150,000 to $300,000 a year to unauthorized haulers. The City Council unanimously passed a bill this week that would impound trucks caught rustling trash off city streets and increase fines for a first-time offense from $100 to $2,000. Follow-up offenders would be fined $5,000. City Councilman Michael McMahon said, "The money we receive back for the paper, the metals in particular, helps pay for the program. So, the city's losing money by losing this paper."
Recycling is required from all NYC buildings; residents can recycle through the DOS but commercial businesses must hire.
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I want to know if these materials are actually recycled by the companies picking them up for the city or if they are just dumped into landfills with the rest of our trash. Has any investigation been done to confirm that recycling is on the up-and-up through the Department of Sanitation?
Funny! Since when the city owns trash?
It is a fact that the city makes money out of it...but if other poeple actually work recycling, it is not theft. It is work!!!
if it takes grabbing a ton of whatever to make $30 then let them take it! It probably will cost the city a whole lot less in manpower (salaries) when they don't have to pay the workers to pick it up. sounds like the city will make more off of the tickets by raising the violation fines than they will the recycling.
how much does it cost the city to pick up the 15-30 dollars-a-ton paper? Slap a 5 cent deposit per bottle on water and juice and we can all sleep well tonight.
michigan just busted a chicago based can scam where these guys got miilions of cans, crushed them, sold them at a discount to people in michigan where they got the 10 cents. And yes i see the seinfeld reference.
isn't something left on the curb considered abandoned? Anyone can pick it up. Are they going to start arresting and fining the folks who pick up the refundable pop bottles next?
This is penny ante crap from the Department of Sanitation.
You're kidding, right? This is like the city prosecuting people for selling swipes on the metrocard - the person being prosecuted is desperate and trying to make a meager living and is no real harm to the public. Seriously, aren't there more important things for the D.A.'s to deal with?
Instead of paying for recycling through the DOS could we instead have vendors pay to pick up the trash to sell at a profit?
I know, I know "privatization doesn't work," "it'll be just like the Sopranos," "etc, etc."
Does anyone know why there is no 5 cent return for water bottles and such? I always wondered what the distinction was.
why does the city make more than the haulers stealing the recycles?
The market for paper is actually $150/ton
there is more to editing than spell check dave
if people want the trash let them take it, the city is paying people to take it now, why not let other people take it for free!!!