ARTICLE
Leadership of the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) met with the International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in Washington, DC on May 5, 2022. The associations discussed how the epidemic of catalytic converter thefts across the United States is having a negative impact on the public and their respective membership. At the meeting, ARA President Marty Hollingshead (Northlake Auto Recyclers, Hammond, IN), emphasized that “professional automotive recyclers do not generally purchase detached catalytic converters but purchase entire vehicles with catalytic converters still attached. Additionally, automotive recyclers are required by federal law to report every vehicle they acquire into the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.” For several years, automotive recyclers have fallen prey to catalytic converter thieves who break into their facilities and steal catalytic converters from vehicles. Catalytic converter theft has put negative pressure on the industry’s business model because automotive recyclers are purchasing vehicles with the expectation that a catalytic converter will be present on a vehicle only to discover that it in fact has been stolen and removed. Over the past two years, ARA has been committed to working alongside law enforcement to help combat motor vehicle theft and catalytic converter theft. Additionally, the associations discussed the lifecycle of a catalytic converter and began identifying points in the chain of commerce where stolen catalytic converters are most likely to be laundered into legitimate business streams. The parties presently agree that it would be beneficial to continue conversations regarding catalytic converter theft with the hope that each group can reach a better understanding and agreement with one other.