The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) is petitioning the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a reprieve in transporting ferrous and non-ferrous metals—just as FMCSA providedfor paper and plastics transport on March 18.
In its letter to FMCSA, ISRI said metal recycling is essential to supplying the manufacturing sector and should, therefore, be added to the National Emergency Declaration for Commercial Vehicles Delivering Relief in Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak. If granted exemption, metal recyclers would aligned with the US Department of Homeland Security’s declaration on essential materials.
Furthermore, ISRI contends that without exemption, raw, but essential, materials will be caught in the wide net cast for non-essential closures, which would cut off supply of raw material feedstock into steel mills, foundries, and other critical operations. Without scrap, rebar, writing, tubing and other key material production will not be possible, ISRI’s missive added.
ISRI also noted that copper contains anti-microbial properties that are critical in reducing the spread of disease, and that they are staples in hospitals.