Eastern Metal Recycling (EMR) could soon be one step closer to reopening its Camden facility.
On Tuesday, July 7, Camden City Council is expected to vote on a proposed resolution that would authorize the City to enter into a settlement agreement with EMR following the suspension of the company’s junkyard license after the May 29 fire. If approved, the agreement would establish the conditions under which EMR could resume operations while legal proceedings continue.
The vote comes after years of repeated fires at EMR’s Waterfront South facility and the City’s decision to suspend the company’s junkyard license following its most recent fire. Since 2020, the Camden facility has experienced more than a dozen significant fires, resulting in emergency responses, shelter-in-place orders, air quality concerns, and increased scrutiny from local and state officials.
For Camden for Clean Air, this vote represents a critical moment for the community. While the proposed agreement could create a path for EMR to reopen, residents deserve to understand what City Council is considering and how the decision could affect the future of Waterfront South.
This is more than a procedural vote. It is another chapter in an ongoing conversation about accountability, environmental justice, and protecting the health of Camden residents who have lived with the impacts of repeated industrial fires for years.
We encourage residents to review the proposed resolution, stay informed, and participate in the public process. Community voices have played an important role throughout this issue, and they remain just as important as City Council considers the next steps.
Camden for Clean Air will continue advocating for clean air, transparency, and decisions that put the health and safety of Camden residents first.
