Pilsen ‘Serial Polluter’ Shouldn’t Get New Permit for Shredding Metal, Residents Say

Mayor Brandon Johnson should halt an operating permit review for a scrap-metal shredding operation in Pilsen, a coalition of Southwest Side community groups said Monday.

Sims Metal Management’s Permit Request Sparks Concerns

Sims Metal Management, a metal and electronics shredding company, is seeking a permit to operate at 2500 S. Paulina St. The permit would allow the company to continue operating at the site, despite a history of violating environmental laws and regulations.

Sims’ Environmental Record

Sims has been cited by state and federal officials for violating environmental laws, including a six-year-old agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve its pollution controls. In 2021, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul sued the company, alleging it was not making sufficient progress in reducing air pollution at its Paulina site.

“Sims has been in violation, not once or twice but many, many, many times,” said Theresa McNamara, chairwoman of the Southwest Environmental Alliance. “This is what the mayor needs to look at. He needs to see that this is a serial polluter.”

New Equipment Installation

Under an agreement with the state, Sims is building new equipment to contain emissions from the site. However, community leaders are calling for the company to install the equipment before receiving a new permit.

“They should not get a permit [from the city] until they put in the equipment,” McNamara added. “We need the mayor to stop giving Sims special treatment by overlooking their history in our community.”

Federally Ordered Air Monitoring

Federally ordered air monitoring around Sims has shown no dangerous levels of pollution, according to a city spokeswoman. However, testing will continue “until the new controls are installed” and “confirmed to be operating correctly.”

Company Statement

In a statement, Sims said, “The health and safety of the community, particularly nearby residents, as well as our employees, remains our No. 1 priority.”

Permit Process Under Review

The Sims permit process began under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who stopped a similar car-shredding operation from opening on the Southeast Side in early 2022. A relocated and rebranded General Iron was hoping to open at East 116th Street along the Calumet River after it shut down in Lincoln Park following a push from the city.

HUD Agreement

Lightfoot’s initial denial of the permit was based on concerns about the cumulative effects of air pollution from multiple industrial sources. The rejection of the Southeast Side permit left Sims as the only car-shredding facility in the city.

Current Reforms

Johnson vowed to abide by the agreement and more than a year ago promised to move forward on reforms. However, little progress has been made, and community leaders are calling on the mayor to halt the Sims permit decision.

Submit Public Comments

The city has posted a proposed draft permit online and is accepting public comments on the document through November 7. Submit comments to envcomments@cityofchicago.org.

Conclusion

Residents of Pilsen and surrounding communities are urging Mayor Johnson to reconsider the Sims permit decision, citing the company’s history of environmental violations and lack of progress in reducing pollution. The community is calling for the city to prioritize public health and safety, rather than the interests of a “serial polluter.”

FAQs

* What is Sims Metal Management? A metal and electronics shredding company located in the Pilsen neighborhood.
* What is the company’s environmental record? Sims has been cited by state and federal officials for violating environmental laws and regulations.
* What is the city’s response to the concerns? A city spokeswoman has stated that federally ordered air monitoring has shown no dangerous levels of pollution, but testing will continue until new controls are installed and operating correctly.
* What is the community’s response? Community leaders are calling for the city to halt the permit decision and consider the cumulative effects of air pollution on public health.

Note: The article includes a photo of a machine picking up scraps of metal and loading them into a container at Sims Metal Management in the Pilsen neighborhood.