Bayonne Residents Complain of Loud Noise, Metallic Dust from Scrap Metal Yard

Residents said the dust has settled onto everything.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Residents in Bayonne, New Jersey, claim European Metal Recycling, a scrap metal plant that opened at the Duraport Terminal in April, is spewing metallic dust into the neighborhood and making noise at all hours of the night.

“People were going around with magnets and picking their dust up with magnets,” said longtime resident Ray Papalski.

 The facility was just hit with two violations from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). According to the notice of violation, the facility violated the Air Pollution Control Act and the Air Pollution Control regulations. The violations claim the plant was built without the proper reconstruction permit and was operated without first obtaining a valid operating certificate.

Residents said the dust has settled onto everything. “On your house, on your car, in my yard, on the patio – you’ll get it everywhere,” said neighbor Jason Moncrief.

Neighbors said the noise has dissipated since the facility was served with violations on Oct. 11, but they described what it was like at its worst.

 “Just picture big, giant pieces of metal and they just drop it,” said Moncrief, describing the sound.

“You couldn’t even sleep,” said Papalski. “You had to close the windows. You had to put the air conditioning on just so you didn’t have to hear it. It was really bad.”

 Several neighbors believe they have developed health issues as a direct result of the dust. Papalski said he suffered from eye problems.

“My nephew had two styes and I had two styes,” said Papalski. “People down the block had them.”

“All of a sudden, now you’ve got metal dust and I’m getting styes in my eyes,” said Papalski. “Something’s gotta be related to that.”

Bill Kakalec said his girlfriend’s daughter also suffered. “She has asthma,” said Kakalec. “She couldn’t sit in the yard because of all the dust, inhaling it.”

In a statement to PIX11 News, the City of Bayonne said it has no jurisdiction over air quality matters, but it has been working with both the Hudson Regional Health Commission and NJDEP for quite some time about complaints.

The city urges residents with air quality complaints to contact the Hudson Regional Health Commission at 201-223-1133 and the NJDEP at 877-WARNDEP (877-927-6337) as soon as they see something concerning. Both agencies need to be on site when an alleged violation is taking place.

PIX11 News reached out to both European Metal Recycling and Duraport for comment but have not yet heard back.

Courtesy: www.msn.com

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