Cash is king in scrap—it always has been. But Denver just passed an ordinance banning cash payments for scrap metal purchases like copper, brass, and aluminum. The city says it's modeled after their catalytic converter law, which helped drop Denver from #1 in cat thefts to the bottom 10 in the country. The goal? Make it harder for thieves to flip stolen metal for quick, untraceable cash.
But here's the other side: one Denver yard owner points out that a lot of his customers don't have bank accounts. They're what he calls "unbankable"—folks who rely on cash to get by. His scrapyard also funds a food bank next door that serves the Globeville neighborhood. If business drops because customers can't get paid in cash, that food bank takes a hit too.
This isn't just a Denver thing. More cities and states are looking at similar laws to crack down on theft. The question is: how do you balance theft prevention with serving the people who depend on scrap yards for income?
Ready for the Cashless Future
Whether your city mandates it or you're just looking to modernize, ScrapRight already supports pay-to-debit card solutions. Your customers get paid instantly to a reloadable card—no bank account required, no cash handling headaches for you:
- Instant Debit Card Payouts — Customers walk out with funds loaded to a card they can use anywhere. Works for the unbanked, stays compliant with cash-ban laws.
- Full Transaction Trail — Every payment is documented and traceable, which is exactly what regulators want to see.
- Reduced Cash Handling Risk — Less cash on-site means less risk of theft and robbery at your yard.