Abandoned cars in New Orleans

We just were talking about this on July 4th. NPR must have been listening ;)

All Things Considered,

"July 10, 2006 · Nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, the state of Louisiana has finally started hauling way tens of thousands of lost or abandoned cars and boats."

and later:

"Even a totally destroyed car is worth about $1,000 for scrap metal. In the case of a nicer car that isn't completely flooded, the parts could be worth up to $1,000 as well.

State officials are concerned that unauthorized scrapping of abandoned vehicles could lead to an environmental mess. There are mercury switches, battery acid, antifreeze and other toxins in cars that are supposed to be disposed of properly.

But it's expected to take at least several months for the tens of thousands of abandoned cars to be towed away, so it's likely that illegal car scrapping will continue in Louisiana."