High prises on scrap metal

[Phil Waterman]

Yes, the rising price of scrap is having an effect, locally here in New Hampshire we have seen several large, old, out door, automotive and truck display, and storage areas (junkyards) have been empty out all being crushed and sold as scrap.

Last year the old vehicle fraternity had to fight introduction of a law hear in New Hampshire that would have classified any collection of three or more unregistered motor vehicle as a junkyard, even if they were stored indoors. Junkyards here are subject to registration with the state along with various screening, setback, and environmental rules.

I along with others testified at the hearings for the proposed law. It turned out that incident that caused the filling of a new law was over four unregistered and unused snowmobiles in the backyard of a home in one States few cities. Once it was suggested to the legislative committee that they look at the number of homes in their districts that would fall under this law, when you count cars, trucks, snowmobiles, boats, lawn tractors etc. they rejected the proposed law.

One good thing did come out of the hearings was that the old car/truck hobby exempted from the existing junkyard law.

As a point of interest New Hampshire a state of just over 1 million people has the 3rd largest legislature body in the world after the US Congress and the House of Parliament. However, we have both of those beat because our legislature is not paid.