Recycling yard in Los Angeles closed by county government

Atlas Iron & Metal Co. in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles has pleaded no contest to five felony counts of “hazardous waste disposal at an unpermitted site," according to Los Angeles County District Attorney (DA) Nathan J. Hochman.

The plea has resulted in the immediate and permanent closure of all operations on the premises.

The Atlas Iron facility is adjacent to Jordan High School and the Jordan Downs Housing Development. The metal recycling facility has been in business since 1949, while Jordan High School opened in 1925.

“The facility’s operations had increasingly violated environmental and safety regulations as far back as 2017,” the DA’s office says.

The agency says soil samples taken from an area of the high school showed excessive concentrations of lead and zinc, and additional samples taken at Atlas found excessive concentrations of seven metals in total.

Last August, “a fiery explosion” occurred at the facility as students at the nearby school were arriving for their first day of classes, but it did not cause any injuries.

The recent plea agreement mandates that Atlas pay $1 million in restitution to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD); $850,000 to be distributed among the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazardous Materials Division; and $150,000 in other fines and penalties.

Company owners Gary Weisenberg and son Matthew Weisenberg pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and one misdemeanor count of public nuisance, according to Hochman’s office. Sentencing will be set for a later date.

As part of the agreement, Atlas must permanently cease all operations at its property then fulfill DTSC-mandated remediation requirements and ensure a thorough site cleanup.

Atlas and its owners also must execute a land use covenant restricting the site from being used for recycling, industrial, metalworking or similar activities, per the agreement, and give the school district and the city of Los Angeles the right of first refusal on the sale of the property.

“This company prioritized profits over the community’s well-being for far too long, and this shutdown presents a welcome reprieve,” LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho says. “Thank you to District Attorney Hochman for all your efforts in bringing the case to a successful end, and to all who fought for this community.”

On its website, still operating as of May 21, Atlas Iron says it serves contractors, machine shops and the public by offering recycling services for ferrous and nonferrous scrap, including by providing bins and containers and offering demolition services.

In a statement sent to Recycling Today, Benjamin Gluck, legal counsel for Atlas Iron & Metal, says: “Founded in 1949 by the Weisenberg family, Atlas has been a cornerstone of the Watts business community for 75 years. While it is with great sadness that Atlas has agreed to close its doors, this decision reflects the evolving land use along the Alameda Corridor. Our clients hope that the outcome of this case and the financial contributions Atlas has committed to will help support and uplift the Watts community.”