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» babble   » walking the talk   » labour and consumption   » A new business opportunity - "recycling" maintenance hole covers...

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Author Topic: A new business opportunity - "recycling" maintenance hole covers...
Agent 204
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4668

posted 15 July 2008 07:27 PM      Profile for Agent 204   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Officials in Flint, Mich., say they've had to replace hundreds of manhole covers and grates that were probably stolen and sold for scrap.

The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year. A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace.



From Yahoo, via WDCRob at iTulip.

From: home of the Guess Who | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
Jingles
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Babbler # 3322

posted 15 July 2008 10:05 PM      Profile for Jingles     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
A co-worker was at a drilling rig in Alberta today. He had to wait all day to do his job, because during the months the rig was racked on the site, someone had stripped it of all its power cables for the copper. That's a lot of copper.
From: At the Delta of the Alpha and the Omega | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
scooter
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Babbler # 5548

posted 16 July 2008 07:13 AM      Profile for scooter     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
About a month ago someone tried to steel copper cable in Calgary. One minor problem. The copper cable was in use by Enmax (our local electric utility). Zap, sizzle, no more copper thief. One more nominee for the 2008 Darwin Awards.
From: High River | Registered: Apr 2004  |  IP: Logged
martin dufresne
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posted 16 July 2008 07:20 AM      Profile for martin dufresne   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Was he trying to "steel copper" or to cop a steal? Did he stealthily use a Stihl power tool?
Actually, I have read other reports of manhole covers being stolen throughout North America in recent years. Thieves sell to unscrupulous scrap yards who then sell to China that is said to be buying al the scrap steel it can find. Which may indicate that North-American steel producers are either unable to meet demand, selling at too high a price or being prevented by govt from selling to China.

[ 16 July 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ]

[ 16 July 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ]


From: "Words Matter" (Mackinnon) | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged
scooter
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5548

posted 16 July 2008 11:35 AM      Profile for scooter     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by martin dufresne:
Which may indicate that North-American steel producers are either unable to meet demand, selling at too high a price...

[OFF TOPIC]
Selling too high? The high price has allowed North American steel makers to increase production (by about 20%), hire more unionized workers thus return overseas jobs to our communities.
[/OFF TOPIC]
Spot on about unscrupulous scrap yards.

From: High River | Registered: Apr 2004  |  IP: Logged

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