Law Enforcement's Spent Ammo: Company Hired To Clean It Up In RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County supervisors Tuesday authorized Sheriff Chad Bianco to retain an Arvada, Colorado-based company to handle the recycling of spent ammo and lead cleanup services at the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center in Riverside.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the Board of Supervisors affirmed the sheriff's $175,000-a-year contract with Metals Treatment Technologies LLC, running until June 2028.

"Metals Treatment Technologies is the largest nationwide professional firing range lead reclamation, maintenance and cleaning contractor," according to a sheriff's statement posted to the board's agenda. "(The company) guarantees the highest recycling value for the range lead."

The training center, located at 17425 Ferguson Ave., maintains four handgun bays and one rifle bay, and they're in operation "day and night throughout the year, including weekends and holidays," the sheriff's department said.

Not only sheriff's personnel, but also law enforcement officers from other agencies utilize the open-air space.

There was no estimate provided on the accumulation of brass that occurs daily or weekly at the facility.

"Metals Treatment Technologies' services will include separating lead bullets from rubber as required by state and federal guidelines," according to the sheriff's department. "Trash and debris shall be collected, separated and removed from the rubber at each bay."

When the agency posted a request for prospective vendors to bid on the contract, only MTT submitted an offer, officials said.

The entire $962,500 expense over the roughly five-year contract will be covered through the county General Fund.