Recycling facilities play an important role in creating a sustainable future. How can proactive security help ensure they are protected?
Recycling facilities help create a sustainable future.
As we continue to observe Earth Month throughout the month of April, we are taking the opportunity to highlight industries that help contribute to global sustainability which have been impacted by crime.
Recycling facilities are among the industries that has seen a rise in trespassing and theft over the last several years. These facilities are important components of the wider economy – reusing materials, minimizing waste, and repurposing materials for use across a variety of different industries. With the call for more businesses to be eco-friendly and sustainable, recycling facilities continue to play an important role in creating a more sustainable future. The materials found on these sites, including scrap metal, copper wiring, catalytic converters, and more, are especially vulnerable as thieves target them for their high re-sale value.
The price of various precious metals continues to rise.
Since we last wrote on this topic in October 2023, the price of precious metals has not gone down in any significant way, and they continue to be of high value to thieves. As of April 2024, copper fetches a high price of $4.08 per pound; a 12.7% increase from October 2023 (1). Aluminium is also of high value, with a price of $2,378 per ton, an increase of 2.45% over the same period. (2)
Our proven track record of deterring recycling facility theft.
Our proprietary security technology is designed to deter criminals before they act, and if they don’t desist, altering law enforcement to the active situation. We protect many recycling facilities from the threat of trespassing and theft, and have a strong track record of proven protection.
In May 2023, an individual trespassed onto a recycling site in broad daylight, moving throughout the property in search of items to steal. After taking several pieces of material, they tried attempted to make a getaway through a fence before they were greeted by Police on the other side, and placed in cuffs.
In July 2023, an individual trespassed onto a recycling facility during off-hours and began digging through various bins for recyclable materials to steal. When they didn’t heed the warnings of our Live Remote Video Monitoring team, they dispatched Police to the scene who apprehended the suspect in the middle of their brazen theft.
In September 2023, an individual trespassed onto a recycling property – riding their bicycle throughout the site as they searched for items to steal. Upon trying to make their getaway, Police arrived, placed them in cuffs, and returned the stolen materials.
Canadian governments try to combat recycling theft.
Governments at multiple levels have tried to curb recycling facility theft through legislation. In March 2024, the City of Brantford voted unanimously in favour of more regulations for salvage yards, modeled after a similar system passed in Alberta back in November 2020.
The bylaw will prevent salvage yard dealers from accepting prohibited items and also make it mandatory to issue traceable transactions for each seller, on items such as copper tubing, bronze markers, manhole covers, and other materials (3). While these new laws may be effective in the short term, there has been criticism from some that it is not incumbent of scrap metal dealers and recycling facilities to catch criminals and vet every transaction. Recycling facilities are busy properties with a large amount of inventory coming through, making it difficult to verify the origin of every seller’s materials on a granular level. Instead, there is a call to deter criminals before they can steal valuable scrap metal and enact stricter penalties for those who commit recycling theft. (4)
Proactive recycling security can help prevent theft from occurring, and deter criminals from acting before they strike.
How can proactive protection provide effective recycling centre security?
Deterrence signage warns criminals that the site is off-limits
Our first line of defense for deterring criminals is our high-visibility deterrence signage. Placed on exterior fences around the perimeter of your site, they let trespassers and would-be criminals know that the area is live monitored and off limits. This signage plays a key role in our layered approach to security – creating an envelope of protection that is difficult for criminals to penetrate.
Artificial Intelligence provides next-generation human detection
Our proprietary artificial intelligence platform has been extensively trained to detect and differentiate human movement from other movement on-site, allowing our Monitoring team to focus on important and crucial details as they track a situation as it arises. AI will detect potential criminals as soon as they approach the perimeter and fence line, and will continue to track their movement. Through the power of AI, we are able to detect and intervene to deter criminals better than ever before.
Our Video Security Units are an effective recycling security camera solution
Our Video Security Units are a comprehensive package of surveillance technology. They are ready to cover every angle, establishing perimeter protection and situational awareness on-site. Each unit in the security network utilizes two stationary cameras that are positioned to cover a fixed area, and are complimented by a powerful PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera that is able to zoom in on important details in high-resolution. These high-res, court quality video feeds are transmitted back to our UL Certified Remote Video Monitoring facility, leveraging the power of our proprietary and ground-breaking cellular LTE+ platform.
Live Remote Video Monitoring watches your site in-real time
Our primary goal is to deter crime before it happens, and our Live Remote Video Monitoring team are trained to do just that. They accomplish this through proactive deterrence – using bright LED strobe lights to signal that a site is off-limits, and loud, authoritative voice commands that inform individuals that they are being live monitored. If they continue to target recycling materials, Police will be alerted and dispatched to the scene. With incidents of recycling theft on the rise, our Live Remote Video Monitoring service can make the difference with effective recycling video security.
syncroDetect offers additional protection
In addition to exterior areas that contain valuable materials, recycling facilities also have vulnerable storage areas, sea-cans, and other sensitive spaces that require protection. Our wireless intrusion alarm system, syncroDetect, secures these areas through door and window contact sensors that alert when there entry and exit points are breached. These sensors work in tandem with our wireless motion sensors that detect movement – creating an additional layer of protection.
License Plate Reader cameras track vehicles with the power of syncroPlates
Recycling facilities are busy thoroughfares of sellers and materials passing through. Our License Plate Reader cameras can track vehicle movement and license plates, converting the alphanumerical data and storing the information in your own database, syncroPlates. If a vehicle is deemed suspicious or if an incident has occurred, it can be blacklisted and barred from further entry.
syncroReports is your full service security portal
We believe in providing full transparency for recycling property owners. Through our proprietary reporting platform, syncroReports, you are given full access to your site’s security on both web and mobile. Through it, you can view detailed Log Reports, view live video feeds, control PTZ camera movement, and more. Never miss a minute of our security efforts on your site with syncroReports.
Proactive security can make the difference in ensuring recycling facilities continue to contribute to a sustainable future for all.
Resources:
- “Copper Price Summary”, Trading Economics
- “Aluminium Price Summary”, Trading Economics
- “City Council shows support for by-law to regulate salvage yards”, Kimberly de Jong, Brant Beacon, March 20, 2024
- “Metal theft regulations across Canada misplace the responsibility to deter thieves”, Marie Binette, Recycling Product News, March 24, 2021