Camden City Council rejects settlement to reopen EMR recycling facility
CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- Camden City Council voted Tuesday night unanimously against a settlement that would have allowed the phased reopening of EMR Recycling's waterfront facility, sending the dispute back to court for a judge's decision as soon as Wednesday.
The city suspended EMR's license following a May 29 fire, the most recent in a series of at least a dozen fires blamed on the company in recent years.
EMR has been fighting that suspension, but the council's vote blocks a proposed agreement that would have set conditions for reopening.
Residents who have long opposed the facility said the vote was overdue.
"That has been a long time coming," said LaShae Harris of Bergen Square.
"There has to be an end to EMR," said Linda Delengowski of the Waterfront South neighborhood.
Opposition to the company has remained strong, with residents citing health and quality-of-life concerns. An environmental lawsuit against EMR is also ongoing.
City Council Vice President Arthur Barclay questioned how much more the city should tolerate.
"At what point where we say enough is enough?" Barclay said.
Under the rejected settlement, EMR would have been required to meet several conditions, including having a Camden firefighter on site at all times, implementing fire-suppression protocols, maintaining 24/7 operations and maintenance, adopting new procedures for handling lithium-ion batteries, immediately notifying authorities of any fire, and expanding employee training.
Before the vote, EMR employees also addressed council members, expressing remorse while raising concerns about their livelihoods.
"I'm asking that there's consideration for both sides," said Camden resident Stacey Pierce.
Senior Operations Manager Kareem Anderson said workers feared losing their jobs.
"We fighting for our job," Anderson said. "A lot of us second-chance offenders, wecouldn't get a job nowhere else that's going to take care of us the way EMR takes care of us."
Residents and workers said there is no ill will between them, agreeing on the seriousness of the problem but differing on how it should be resolved.
Attorneys are expected to return to court on Wednesday, where a judge will determine the next steps. Residents said they are preparing for any outcome.
"We have to continue to fight, we have to continue to fight, and this won't be the end," Harris said.
An EMR spokesperson declined to comment.
