The dumb-bee award

[Murphy Siding]

    This is a short article form today's Sioux Falls, S.D. KELO news online, about 3 dumb-bees who got caught stealing a half ton of steel, including a switch, from the BNSF yard:

http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=100853 

   What is a half ton of "scrap steel" worth at the salvage yard?

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Article says it was "almost a ton", and worth about $8,500.

The market value of scrap varies crazily lately - and pieces longer than "crops" of 18" to 24" are worth less. But, as a "guesstimate" for the moment - figure $500 per ton or so, until I can look at a Wall Street Journal or similar for current commodity prices.

- Paul North.

[Murphy Siding]

     Ooops.  The half a ton figure was mentioned on the radio news.  I understand the $8500 figure to be the value of the switch.  I don't know about other areas,  but around here, oyu have to have a photo ID to take anything to a recycler or scrap yard for money.  I can't help but believe this load would have sent up a red flag at the scrapper.

[Anonymous]

"Yes Officer, I was gathering scrap metal. No, I didn't know it was private property. I didn't realize the railroad would mind us ripping up their tracks."

[zardoz]

Murphy Siding

around here, you have to have a photo ID to take anything to a recycler or scrap yard for money.  I can't help but believe this load would have sent up a red flag at the scrapper.

It would indeed send up a red flag; however, many scrap dealers prefer to ignore said flags.

The big, well-established scrappers will not accept anything the least bit questionable without proper ID; you can bring in your old soda and beer cans with no questions asked, but if you bring in an aluminum ladder, fencing, wire, etc that looks in halfway decent shape, you will be questioned for an ID.

Most small fly-by-night scrappers will accept anything of value without an ID, but only if you are willing to take a big hit on the price.  For instance, if #1 copper wire is bringing $3/pound retail price at the big scrap dealer (who will ask for an ID), the fly-by-night scrapper might offer you $1/pound, no questions asked.

Until the company I worked for went out of business last year, I worked for a smaller scrap yard. We weren't exactly of the fly-by-night type, but we were hardly a big player.  So I do speak from experience.