Somebody has been scavenging aluminum cans from recycling boxes in the county, an illegal practice, according to County Environmental Services Director Randy Tuchtenhagen, who coordinates the recycling program.

Last Saturday, Tuchtenhagen saw a suspicious car driving toward the Waste Management recycling station north of Albert Lea. He saw a teenage boy get out of the Dodge van with Iowa license plates and climb into the container.

Tuchtenhagen approached the boy and called the sheriff’s office. But, before a deputy arrived, a man who appeared to be in his 60s picked up the boy and drove away.

Since last month, at least three scavenging incidents were reported in the county, according to Tuchtenhagen. The suspects obviously target aluminum cans, which can be sold for 30 to 40 cents per pound in the recycling market.

A county ordinance defines garbage thrown into the recycling container as belonging to the recycling contractor and stealing the contents is subject to a misdemeanor charge.

Considering the time and cost for transportation, whether scavenging cans is profitable is questionable, Tuchtenhagen said. But, the stealing would surely shrink the revenue for the recycling company, which is subsidized by the county for implementing the recycling program started 13 years ago.

&uot;If you take the most valuable stuff, it is increasing the cost of program and affecting the taxpayers money,&uot; Tuchtenhagen said.