How to recycle an old catalytic converter?

[mroneeyedboh]

This is a PITA. haha. No one believes anyone anymore... They all want a business license to recycle it. My dad's buddy that owns a shop in town did the work and he gave me the old unit. Long story short someone did a shotty job prior to this and destroyed the 02 bung, so they rigged it... real BAD. None the less, we swapped it out and now I have a used converter that no one wants to give me money for. Is there anyway to get this thing recycled? Im located in Maryland.

 

[poppop]

Conservit? I can take it in if your local. 21756

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Youre about 2 hours away or so. Thanks but too far. The best quote I got was 80 dollars, but need a business license.

 

[frednoah]

I work in the scrap industry, and in my experience it's not that the guys that buy don't believe you. They are just following the laws some clueless politician put in place for them.

The laws really haven't' curbed theft much, but noncompliance on one of the reporting/documentation requirements can land the buyer/owner in jail. Not worth it for the little bit of money they are going to make off of your one converter.

Instead of harsher penalties for people stealing converters when caught, the lawmakers decided to make it harder for everyone to sell them, even when you're legit. What I've seen is the thieves find ways around each new law before it even begins being enforced properly. There have been a few exhaust shops down my way busted for fencing hot converters for a cut from the thieves.

Not sure about Maryland law, but you may be able to get by with a copy of the guy's business license that gave you the converter, along with a letter on his letterhead stating that you are recycling the converter on behalf of his business.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

They did state that as an option Fred, but I dont want ot bother him on this ya know? Plus he's a little bit of a way from me. I mean you can see its the while converter/manifold assy. and you can see the shotty job they did haha

 

[Steve_P]

I work in the scrap industry, and in my experience it's not that the guys that buy don't believe you. They are just following the laws some clueless politician put in place for them.

The laws really haven't' curbed theft much, but noncompliance on one of the reporting/documentation requirements can land the buyer/owner in jail. Not worth it for the little bit of money they are going to make off of your one converter.

Instead of harsher penalties for people stealing converters when caught, the lawmakers decided to make it harder for everyone to sell them, even when you're legit. What I've seen is the thieves find ways around each new law before it even begins being enforced properly. There have been a few exhaust shops down my way busted for fencing hot converters for a cut from the thieves.

Not sure about Maryland law, but you may be able to get by with a copy of the guy's business license that gave you the converter, along with a letter on his letterhead stating that you are recycling the converter on behalf of his business.

If you have statistical evidence based on police reports, please present it to back your claims.

I am in TN and before we had these laws people were stealing converters off parked vehicles, esp SUVs with high ground clearance. It was widespread. This has basically stopped since the laws were passed.

 

[frednoah]

http://www.wcnc.com/news/crime/Charlotte-seeing-spike-in-catalytic-converter-thefts-191903041.html

http://shelby.wbtv.com/news/news/85562-scrap-yard-owner-tired-criminals-stealing-auto-parts

The articles above are from AFTER the laws were put into effect.

I communicate directly with law enforcement and receive daily email alerts on metals theft in our area, and can tell you converters are still an issue down here. The laws make things harder to move them after they are stolen, but the professionals find a way anyway.