By Councilwoman Jackie Poplar
This scrapping is a multi-billion dollar industry with no real benefits to our community and cities. We are sending our industry scrap to China where they are building hospitals, schools, etc. off our scrap metals and our torn down communities.
China has sent their buyers to the United States and some of them drive 9,600 miles every four weeks around the U.S. to scrap yards to purchase scrap. The 9,600 miles is racked up by one person, who sees more of the United States than the people who live here. Some buyers of the scrap from China also purchase theirs by telephone. By 1980, China came on the market to start purchasing scrap. By 1990, copper started to edge up. In today’s market, red brass can have an asking price of $2.52 a pound or go as low as $2.45 a pound. Just imagine what one ton or half a ton will bring to the seller. The scrap goes when sold into large containers that go to the train yards and from there to the ships that take our precious metals to the shores of China for melt down.
In my opinion until we get jobs for the people, until we get stiffer laws and follow up on them for the scrap yards and scrappers, and until we get law enforcement to respond to scrapping calls in a timely manner and prosecute to the fullest of the law, the City of Flint and this country will continue to have this problem. Do not forget when there is nothing left to scrap in Flint, what are you going to do Grand Blanc, Flushing, Fenton and surrounding areas? Trust me – you are next in line.
