Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Department of Environmental Protection announced on March 19 that they have amended their lawsuit against EMR Advanced Recycling to address several additional fires at the company’s facilities in recent weeks.
The issue is significant because repeated fires at EMR’s scrap metal recycling sites have raised concerns about public health, safety, and quality of life for nearby residents. The state aims to hold EMR accountable for what officials describe as ongoing risks to the community.
“Shame on EMR. For years, fires at their facilities have endangered public health and public safety. Those fires continue to this day, with multiple new blazes reported in the last few weeks alone,” Attorney General Davenport said. “Together with our partners in the Department of Environmental Protection, we are committed to holding EMR accountable and protecting the public from these recurring fires. We look forward to proving our case against EMR in court and putting a stop to this outrageous conduct once and for all.”
DEP Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak said, “Camden residents should not have to live under the ongoing threat of fires that impact their quality of life and pose public health and safety risks. Together with Attorney General Davenport and her team, the DEP will work to ensure that EMR is held accountable for its continued failure to prevent these fires from occurring.”
The amended complaint now includes reports of a fire at EMR’s shredder facility on February 26 as well as an incident involving burning scrap metal aboard an EMR-owned barge traveling through Delaware Bay on March 10 while transporting material from Bayonne to Camden facilities. Officials say that since 2020, there has been a pattern of such incidents across various locations operated by EMR, leading to smoke and air pollution affecting Camden’s neighborhoods.
EMR operates metal recycling centers in Camden Waterfront South, which is identified as an overburdened community under New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law due to its significant low-income, minority, or limited English proficiency populations.
The New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims to protect residents’ lives and property while upholding legal standards statewide according to the official website. The office extends its services throughout all counties and municipalities according to the official website, influencing public safety through law enforcement oversight according to the official website. Its statutory mandate includes enforcing laws, prosecuting offenses, regulating public safety matters according to the official website, providing state legal representation, crime lab support, victim advocacy, consumer protection initiatives according to the official website, and functioning as a justice-focused agency across New Jersey according to the official website.
Officials say they intend for this legal action not only to address past incidents but also prevent future harm by ensuring stricter compliance from companies operating in vulnerable communities.
