Minnesota-based Northern Metal Recycling has been barred from receiving scrap metal at its shredding facility following a fire that began in a pile of stacked cars last week.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) ordered the company, a subsidiary of European Metal Recycling (EMR), to cease accepting scrap metal and operations on affected areas of the 75-acre site about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
At the time of the fire on 18 February, Northern Metal had not begun operating its shredder following its relocation to Becker from Minneapolis. Northern Metal ceased shredding in Minneapolis in September 2019 under a 2017 agreement with the MPCA.
Before Northern Metal resumes normal operations, MPCA is requiring a damage assessment, a cleanup plan, updated storage plans for scrap to prevent further incidents, and verification that further scrap acquisition will not interfere with the cleanup process.
Shredding operations are further postponed until the company takes steps to control the dust generated by the fire's ashes, and until the fire's cause is identified. The MPCA is also requiring a review of the company's feedstock control plan to ensure environmental safety moving forward.
Northern Metal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company's former shredding location in Minneapolis is currently being used for storing scrap material. Additional scrap collection at that location is suspended until the company submits an updated storage plan for vehicles and associated debris.
The company operates several locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.
