Copper wire recycling license required in 2025 after judge’s ruling

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota will be the first state to require a license for anyone buying or selling copper wire, starting Jan. 1.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a judge ruled against recyclers trying to block the law from taking effect.

Why require licenses?

Theft problem: St. Paul city leaders pushed for the law and a drive down Shepard Road makes it obvious why - nearly the entire street is in the dark after sunset because of copper wire theft.

The city spent more than $1 million last year replacing copper wire, so they wanted a better way to stop thieves.

One streetlight’s worth of copper wire costs taxpayers about $2,000 to replace, but it’s worth only about $50 to a recycler.

How's it work?

Simple prevention: Starting in 2025, anyone who wants to sell copper wire will have to get a license from the state at a cost of $250.

Recycling companies will have to check the license when they buy metal.

"Quite simply, people steal copper wire because they can sell stolen copper wire," St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in April as he pushed for the new law. "So if we say you can’t sell stolen copper wire, then we can eliminate that marketplace and eliminate the incentive for stealing it in the first place."

Possible punishment

Costly conduct: Businesses buying copper wire from unlicensed sellers could lose their license.

It’s a multi-billion dollar industry in Minnesota, so that license is very valuable.

And the online application process is pretty simple.

But a group representing about 25 scrappers said the law is too broad.

Arguments against

Broad ban: They argued it should just target specific grades of copper wire used for streetlights and air conditioning units.

They were denied a restraining order on Wednesday, though, so the law will take effect in a couple of weeks.

The state has already approved 16 licenses and denied zero.