Looks like criminals aren't the only ones dealing with dirty money.
The Bank of Canada destroyed more than $6.4 million worth of mutilated bank notes in 2006 and estimates a small number of the 5,000 cases it handles each year involve "contaminants."
The central bank gauges that "less than 0.5 per cent" of the total volume of bills that are returned annually could have some contaminated notes, according to documents obtained under the Access to Information Act.
"Types of contaminants include: notes found on a corpse, stagnant water, contaminated by human or animal body fluids such as urine, feces, vomit, infectious blood, fine hazardous powders from detonated explosives, dye pack and/or drugs," says one report. "Currency Production's procedures and personal protective equipment provided protect employees from exposure to the above."
That document entitled "Mutilated Note Activity in Ottawa" says the central bank took measures in 2005 to "reduce the risk associated with handling contaminated notes." It requires financial institutions and other senders to provide detailed information about the substance and how the notes became contaminated before agreeing to evaluate them.
"Some of the reasons given include flooding, fires and burial of notes," bank spokesperson Christian Vezeau said in an email. "We do receive, from time to time, contaminated notes that were seized by police forces."
However, the vast majority of mutilated notes are simply torn or ripped. Other, more complex cases include burned or decomposed notes that may involve ash, mould, dried organic matter or soot.
The Bank of Canada has also taken steps to ensure the "safe handling" of mutilated notes by its staff, including sophisticated operating procedures at its main Ottawa-based facility.
"If an unknown contaminant is received by bank employees, the room is vacated," the report says. "The package is left in the room and employees immediately contact the bank's wellness section to discuss next steps."
After the bank notes are analyzed and their value determined, they are kept for a minimum of eight weeks before being set aside for destruction, Vezeau said. Destruction certificates indicate that mutilated bills were shredded on nine occasions in 2006 and then once in July of this year.
Depending on its condition, a $20 note may not actually be worth 20 bucks. For example, half a $20 bill may only yield a settlement of $10 from the bank, Vezeau said, provided the note is split exactly in half.
