Pilsen neighbors gather to protest pollution, operations of scrap metal shredder
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens filled church pews in the Pilsen neighborhood Thursday night to protest air pollution in the area.
They met at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 2172 W. 22nd Pl., to demand that nearby Sims Metal Management – a scrap metal shredding company – either clean up their operations or move out.
The company is seeking state and city approvals to keep operating. But last year, the Environmental Protection Agency found Sims was emitting high levels of air pollutants and required it to lower them – pending those permits.
"It makes me mad when I found out that we are not breathing the same air that North Siders are breathing, or that other communities are breathing, or you know, in other places, they're breathing – and that all these companies now are sited in our neighborhood," said Pilsen resident Ana Gonzales.
The EPA last year found Sims was emitting high levels of chemicals called volatile organic material – which can cause respiratory issues in people, said Illinois EPA Director John Kim.
"There is a requirement in state regulation, which is included in the permit, that they have to reduce it by at least 81 percent – and they were not reducing it by that amount," Kim said.
The EPA said Sims, 2500 S. Paulina St., has started monitoring its emission levels.
"We actually believe they will be reduced way past that required level," Kim said.
However, residents want the company shut down altogether – citing what they call an environmental injustice.
"The same factories and polluters that were on the North Side – they were closed down and allowed to open up here," said Pilsen activist Emma Lozano.
"I want them gone. They can find someplace else," added Gonzales, "someplace else where there's not a lot of people so they can do what they need to do."
In a statement, Sims said it has agreed to a number of upgrades at the facility as it seeks the necessary permits:
"Air quality is important to all Chicagoans, including Sims Metal, that's why we are investing $15 million in advanced emissions controls for our metal shredder, a project which has been approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. We recognize Chicago is a major transportation hub with significant traffic flowing through our city and a strong industrial base, so we are proud to be part of the environmental solution with this investment. Plus, we are continuing to invest in improvements to our Paulina Street facility in Pilsen as we seek to lead by example with best practices for other industrial employers. We have agreed to add five PM10 air monitors around our facility to scientifically measure particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and metals. These significant upgrades to our environmental monitoring systems and the planned upgrades to our environmental control systems will allow us to continue being a good neighbor and provide industry leading recycling services in Chicago. This investment in Pilsen is a win for all local stakeholders and the City of Chicago," said Réal Hamilton-Romeo, global head of corporate communications and marketing for Sims Limited.
