A Bangor recycling company allegedly broke state law by having 190 catalytic converters at its facility.
AIM Recycling is prohibited from purchasing or deconstructing catalytic converters removed from vehicles because it doesn’t have a license to recycle them, according to a complaint filed Tuesday by the state of Maine in Bangor District Court.
The recycling center violated a 2022 law aimed at preventing catalytic converter theft, according to a filing from the state. The law requires a vehicle identification number or license and stock number be permanently marked onto the catalytic converters by businesses.
A detective with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles found 190 catalytic converters when he went to the recycling center at 2630 N. Bangor Road, according to a report he filed in August 2023. They were seized from the business, per court records.
AIM Recycling in Bangor had no comment, a representative of the company said when reached by phone Thursday.
The state wants a judge to order a forfeiture of the catalytic converters.
The exhaust emission control devices are fairly easy to take off a car and contain precious metals, which makes it a target for thieves. Maine and other states have seen a rise in catalytic converter thefts in recent years
