Why It Matters

Catalytic converters have emerged as prime targets for theft, with precious metals inside fetching $200–$300 on the black market. Organized theft networks operate across jurisdictions and internationally, with arrest rates estimated at only one in 10 theft attempts, creating enforcement challenges that the industry views as requiring legislative solutions. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries filed a lobbying disclosure for quarter two 2026 on July 21, 2026, reporting $105,820 in expenditures, signaling the industry's intensified push for federal action.

The industry is also contending with new trade dynamics. Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports took effect in June, disrupting global supply chains while creating both opportunities and risks for domestic scrap processors. Meanwhile, environmental regulations around PFAS and battery recycling continue to evolve, forcing the industry to navigate complex compliance frameworks.

By The Numbers

The $105,820 quarterly spend represents the organization's highest single-filing amount to date, a sharp jump from quarter one, when the group spent $56,221 through in-house lobbying. The organization also maintains a separate external lobbying relationship with Holland & Knight LLP, which reported $60,000 in fees during quarter one. Across six total filings over the past year, the Institute generated $501,809 in client revenue.

Kristen Hildreth has represented the Institute consistently from 2024 through 2026 across quarterly filings. David Mann, Rich Gold, Dimitri Karakitsos, and Peter Tabor were listed as lobbyists in the 2025 quarter three filing through Holland & Knight LLP.

Broader Context

The Institute's quarter two lobbying agenda centered on several legislative priorities. The group focused on the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act and the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), both targeting organized theft networks, while also lobbying on trade issues related to copper and aluminum.

Environmental and regulatory issues rounded out the focus: PFAS regulations, battery recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks, e-scrap processing standards, and the use of crumb rubber from scrap tires in asphalt construction. The organization also tracked recycling labeling standards and consumer packaged goods policy.

State-level action has accelerated in response to catalytic converter theft. Colorado has tightened controls on recyclers and scrap transactions, while Ohio signed a new law in July 2026 requiring scrap dealers to track catalytic converter sales and verify parts.

The Bottom Line

The Institute's spending surge signals an industry under pressure from multiple directions. Catalytic converter theft has become a national enforcement challenge, prompting federal legislation like the PART and CORCA acts. Simultaneously, trade policy shifts are reshaping supply chains and input costs, while new environmental standards require costly compliance investments. By escalating its lobbying presence, the Institute is positioning the scrap recycling industry to shape how Congress addresses theft, trade, and environmental regulation, rather than react to them after the fact.

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