14 Arrested In Recycling Fraud

A ring of recycling thieves made milllions by redeeming bottles in California from Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

1 minute read

October 24, 2002, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"State officials said the ring was purchasing aluminum cans as scrap in states that do not require a recycling deposit and then cashing them in at California recycling centers, where deposit money is returned.The profit could be substantial. Discarded aluminum cans in Nevada, Arizona and Utah could be had for about $950 a ton and then sold in California for about $2,490 a ton. Plastic bottles netted even higher profits, selling for $90 a ton out of state and bringing in $910 in California."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 in The Los Angeles Times

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