San Antonio City Council Adopts New Rules for Metal, Auto Part Recyclers
he new codes were sought after a 2023 series of fires
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio City Council’s adoption of new rules will prevent and limit the impact of fires like the ones in 2023 that put residents in the southern part of the city on edge due to the potential of harmful chemicals in the air, Public Citizen said today.
The vote and updated codes result from the work of a task force created by a council consideration request filed by District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo. The task force–composed of advocates, community members and industry representatives–met over the past year to create the draft recommendations provided to the council for today’s vote.
“These updates are not perfect, but they are an improvement that will hopefully prevent more fires and outline how recyclers must respond when they do happen,” said Debra Ponce, a Public Citizen organizer and member of the task force. “When the fires occurred two years ago, people in neighboring communities were forced to flee their homes if they could. Those who couldn’t, especially if they suffered from a pre-existing medical condition, were forced to shelter in place and hope nothing dangerous in the air could make it into their homes. No one should have to make such choices, particularly in the vulnerable working-class communities where these facilities are often found.”
The updated codes include requirements for the recyclers to develop a fire plan, limit debris pile height, strict fencing requirements, and more.