The City Council is declaring war on people who steal recyclables and manhole covers.
Those who heist paper, large appliances and big metal items put out on the sidewalk for Sanitation trucks would be subject to $5,000 fines under a bill to be considered at a City Hall hearing today.
Those who rip off manhole covers — which can be sold for scrap metal — would be subject to $3,000 fines on top of the punishment they’d get under state criminal laws, under another bill.
The proposals follow exclusive reports in The Post about thefts of manhole covers, used appliances and other recyclable materials.
As prices for recyclables rebound from their recession lows, more and more thieves are lifting items left out for Sanitation trucks to pick up.
Legitimate recycling businesses and the city are losing millions to the trash thieves.
“We’ve heard from members of the industry about the thefts of these materials, and how it’s affected the bottom line,” said Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn).
Stealing recyclables “has become an illegal industry that we must address,” James said.
Besides the bills addressing recyclable theft, the Council’s Sanitation committee is also considering proposals to license trucks that pick up used beverage cans and bottles and tighten rules for disposing of old refrigerators.
bsanderson@nypost.com