Metal and Soul

Andy Netzel: From atop his perch on a rail car, Don Whipkey gives an overflowing heap of scrap metal a glance. Behind him is a mountain of junk. Old car doors. Appliances. Piping. Unidentifiable shards of discarded items that will again become useful once melted and processed.



He's looking for rubber or combustible containers or other objects that could harm the environment or the workers who will melt it down. But this look will be quick. Leaving bad scrap on top of the stack is rookie stuff. He'll examine it more once the giant, magnet-equipped crane removes a few feet of material. That's where the nefarious scrap peddlers stuff less than pristine materials.



This steel mill is where…