Cardboard Theft on the Rise in NYC

Boro-Wide Recycling Corp. 

Maspeth, NY 718-416-1656 

www.BoroWideRecycling.com

Cardboard theft or "cardboard poaching" as it’s not being referred to as, has become a huge issue. It is a multimillion dollar recycling crime and is being seen more and more frequently because for many, stealing 

cardboard means quick cash.

The way it is supposed to work in New York City is that approximately 150,000 commercial establishments have contracts with waste removal companies who are licensed with the Business Integrity Commission. They are authorized haulers who have scheduled pick-up times with these businesses who pick up waste with professional trucks. However, New York is not the only city this is occurring in. There have been reports of cardboard theft in California, Virginia, Connecticut, Georgia and Miami.

Cardboard thieves are renting trucks from U-Haul and Penske or unmarked vehicles and are driving down streets and quickly picking up as many bales of cardboard as they can find. They are also going to large stores such as Costco or shopping areas and scaling dumpsters left outside to retrieve cardboard.

What do you think about this issue? Do you think these thieves can be stopped? Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page, linked HERE!