With the economy in such turmoil, most people are tightening their budgets and saving what money they can.

However, some other people have taken to stealing items made of metals in order to sell them to scrap recyclers in order to put a little money in their pockets.  Nothing is safe from a determined thief, including church bells, wheelchair ramps, Internet cables, copper wiring from air conditioners, catalytic converters, cemetery plaques and more.  Any metal product that may have potential to be sold for profit can be targeted.

Although scrap yards are constantly on the lookout for stolen property, it is important for other businesses and individuals to keep their eyes open and to protect themselves from being victimized.  Installing security cameras, reporting suspicious behavior, and requesting your local law enforcement agency to make extra patrols through your neighborhood or past your business may help reduce the risk of being targeted by these thieves.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a revolutionary new aircraft.  Part of the unique design of this aircraft is that the body of the aircraft is mostly made up of carbon laminate, rather than the traditional aluminum body for an aircraft.  This shift in use of building materials has resulted in a lighter aircraft and has increased fuel efficiency, producing a more environmentally-friendly aircraft.

To date, airlines around the world have placed orders for a combined total of over 800 Dreamliners, although the aircraft is still undergoing flight testing.

Perhaps when the current fleet of aluminum aircraft is decommissioned and carbon laminate becomes standard, someone will decide to recycle the aluminum aircraft to build a home.

We all see the the benefit to recycling electronics. There are some very toxic materials involved in the manufacture of electronic components and while manufaturers are trying to cut out the use of those toxic materials, there is something to be said about replacement materials. Apparently, India’s government is reluctant to ban the use of materials such as lead solder and they are taking some heat for it. However, if you look carefully at their reasoning, you might see that the issue is not so black and white. Once again, we see that as gung-ho as we want to be in relation to taking care of the environment, many times there are other factors that require careful  research first.

Many recycling companies in the western US have struggled to make recycling of plastic and glass containers work economically. The problem only intensifies as governments set mandated recycling rates. “Luckily”, government then steps in to help with the economics. Unfortunately, we all know how efficient governments are at reducing costs to do anything. Look at the state of California, often considered a leader in recycling.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t do all we can to recycle containers of all sorts, we just need to ensure we are doing it correctly, intelligently. Wouldn’t it be a shame if California’s system collapsed on itself due to the government involvement?

More and more often, you see “junkyards” transforming into “recycling centers” or “auto recyclers.” One reason is the effort to be more environmentally conscientious. Scrap processors are already some of the most efficient recycling companies but if you look like a “junkyard” it’s hard to claim being “green.”

Also, there is a stigma associated with scrapyards similar to pawn shops – operating in or near the gray area of the law. Many recycling operations are doing everything in their power to remove as much of the criminal element from their business relationships.as possible. Cleaning up and looking more like a recycling center instead of a junkyard is helpful in that process. Dealing above board on all transactions as well as working closely with law enforcement has been another important step.

Another reason involves growth opportunities. City and county government entities are much more likely to work with a reputable business to help them grow and being a recycling center helps with that, as was evidenced recently by Speedway Auto Parts of Joliet, Illinois.

So, next time you go to recycle something, take a closer look and see if you don’t see a different operation than your dad’s “junkyard.”