If you bring a piece of copper into a scrap metal dealer
today, you’ll likely receive around $3.00 per pound. That’s up substantially from the 75 cents per
pound you might have received four years ago.
Prices for other types of scrap metal, from aluminum to steel, are also
up. But with the boom in business, comes
a rising amount of theft. As a result, the
Vermont Senate has passed a bill that would require scrap dealers to check
identification and keep detailed sale records.
We talk about market trends with Chuck Carr, from the national
organization, Institute of Scrap
Recycling Industries, and we hear from Vermont
scrap dealers and local law enforcement. (Listen)
Also, we visit with musician Donald Knaack, also known as
the "junk man." Knaack creates music
using pots and pans, radiator coils, and PVC pipe. His unusual instrumentation has taken him
around the country, and also into Vermont
schools where he adds environmental lessons to his performances. Earlier this week, Governor Jim Douglas
honored Knaack for his unique school program. (Listen)
And, we stop by Vermont Spirits, a micro-distillery near St.
Johnsbury that specializes in maple vodka. (Listen)