New Mexico metal recyclers shut down due to new state law

The Albuquerque (N.M) Police Department last week shut down six scrap metal recycling centers.

Police went after the companies for violating state law, enacted July 1, which requires the scrap facilities to register with the state and bans them from buying certain metals, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

The companies shut down are Bellita's Recycling, Wise Recycling, South Valley Metals, J & R Recycling, El Rey Metal and Omar's Recycling.

In addition to regulation violations, police found stolen property at one of the recycling businesses, including 32 pounds of telephone wire, 12 oxygen bottles belonging to a local health care company, a city of Albuquerque traffic sign and 12 PNM high-wire tools, the newspaper said.

Also, employees at Bellita's were using bathroom scales instead of the required industrial scales for weight measurement.

The police department had previously warned the companies in a letter about the new law, saying it would be enforced.

"These businesses knew we were coming," Cmdr. William Roseman said in a statement. "This law gives us the tools we need to curb the ongoing theft of precious metals."

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