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This has to be one of the most innovative recycling projects
in the world - recently, Sheriff Lee Baca at the Los Angeles
County Sheriff's headquarters announced that 8,300 seized
firearms had been destroyed.
The following morning they were converted into steel reinforcing
bars - also known as rebar - to be used for upgrades to freeways
and bridges in California, Nevada and Arizona.
The unique recycling program has flown under the radar outside
of Los Angeles, but not because it is new - the 'Project
Isaiah' program that entails the recycling of thousands
of seized firearms has has been in place since 1993.
The County of Los Angeles's Sheriff’s Department confiscates
thousands of firearms every year. In 1993, the county
partnered with TAMCO Steel, California’s only steel mill,
to create 'Project Isaiah' - a gun collection and recycling
effort.
Project Isaiah seeks to convert seized weapons into useful
products for the community. Over a number of years, these
weapons have been melted down and recycled at TAMCO's steel
mill in Rancho Cucamonga. In 1999, Project Isaiah was responsible
for taking 14,000 firearms out of circulation.
All of the confiscated firearms were recycled into steel
reinforcing bars (rebar), which were then used for local construction.
The guns make an excellent feedstock for rebar because of
their high nickel and chrome content.
Projects that have made use of this recycled steel include
the repair of earthquake-damaged freeways in Northern and
Southern California, the Staples Center arena in downtown
Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor Project.
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