High prices prompting increase in scrap metals theft:
Eurometrec
London (Platts)--2Oct2006
The theft of scrap metal is increasing in Europe on the back of current
high price levels, recycling group Eurometrec warned Monday.
At the last plenary meeting of the European metal trade and recycling
federation in Brussels last week, members "expressed great concern about the
growing number of metals theft which is currently seriously affecting the
non-ferrous metals industry in general and the metal scrap sector in
particular," Eurometrec said in a statement.
"For some months now, rising prices for metal scrap, which is a major
commodity and raw material on the world market, have been leading to a very
sharp increase of the number of thefts," it added.
Guard rails from roadways, metallic structures from buildings, man-hole
covers, copper or steel wire and even trucks fully loaded with metal scrap are
regularly being stolen by thieves, Eurometrec said, adding: "Scrap operators
and recyclers must protect their scrap inventories and also ensure that they
do not inadvertently buy stolen material from illegal merchants."
Between 40% and 60% of European Union unwrought metal production comes
from recycling, according to Eurometrec.
Affiliates to Eurometrec member federations abide by a strict code of
conduct which might lead to the expulsion of a company that fails to respect
the rules, it noted, adding that to protect the sector, Eurometrec member
associations have set up e-mail alerts, which describe the stolen material and
which are sent to all their member companies, and have established close
cooperation with police services and national law enforcement officials.
The member associations of Eurometrec have decided to exchange their
information about stolen material and scrap on a regular basis, Eurometrec
said.
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