Albuquerque City Council Passes "Sale of Recycled Metals Ordinance" to Combat Infrastructure and Property Theft

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Tonight, the Albuquerque City Council passed O-26-32, updating and expanding the City’s crime-reduction efforts by renaming the existing regulations to the “Sale of Recycled Metals Ordinance.”

Co-sponsored by Councilor Renée Grout (District 9) and Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn (District 7), the updated ordinance targets the root driver of metal theft across Albuquerque. By expanding safeguards beyond secondhand catalytic converters to include high-value copper and brass materials, the bill tightens accountability for scrap yards while equipping law enforcement with essential investigative tools.

"Copper, brass, and catalytic converter thefts aren't just minor property crimes—they devastate small businesses, damage public infrastructure, and leave working families stranded with massive repair bills," said District 9 Councilor Renée Grout. "By updating our local laws to mandate clear digital tracking, payment accountability, and cooperation with APD, we are cutting off the easy payday for thieves and protecting our community's valuable assets."

"This legislation creates fair, transparent, and enforceable standards that hold scrap metal transactions to a higher level of accountability," said District 7 Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. "By streamlining electronic reporting and aligning our enforcement directly with law enforcement needs, we are making it significantly harder for stolen infrastructure materials to be fenced in our city." 

Key Protections & Legislative Updates

O-26-32 strengthens safeguards against property crime through several targeted provisions and key amendments adopted by the Council:

• Expanded Scope for Critical Metals: Extends recordkeeping, registration, and holding period requirements to cover insulated and non-insulated copper wire, hardware, cable, and structural brass items frequently targeted in commercial, residential, and utility thefts.
• Mandatory Electronic Reporting (LeadsOnline): Requires secondhand metal dealers to electronically submit daily transaction logs—including seller identification, vehicle data, and transaction details—to the Albuquerque Police Department’s electronic reporting system by 12:00 PM on the next business day.
• Payment Safeguards ($50 Check Limit): Limits cash transactions by requiring that purchases exceeding $50.00 be paid strictly via check, creating an auditable paper trail for high-value sales.
• Verified Commercial Seller Streamlining: Provides tailored holding period timelines for legitimate businesses, licensed recyclers, commercial contractors, and public utilities to ensure routine commercial trade is not unnecessarily delayed.
• Modernized Recordkeeping Options: Permits scrap metal dealers to utilize high-resolution continuous video recording as a valid form of transaction recordkeeping, alongside digital photography of materials and sellers.
• Strengthened Law Enforcement Access: Grants Property Unit Enforcement Officials within APD full access during normal business hours to inspect yards, inventory, and purchase records, backed by a required 15-day holding period for received metals before resale.

Impact on Albuquerque Neighborhoods

In recent years, stolen catalytic converters, copper wiring, and municipal brass fittings have disrupted public utility systems, streetlight operations, commercial construction, and personal transit. O-26-32 establishes a balanced framework that supports honest recycling operations while removing the financial incentives driving property crime.