Video above: South Central El Paso recycling plant catches fire
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Familias Unidas del Chamizal held a press conference on Tuesday morning, May 4, before an El Paso City Council meeting as a response to the recent fire at a recycling plant in South-Central El Paso.
The organization says the recent fire was located close to residential areas and neighborhood schools.
Miguel Paredes/KTSM 9 News
The organization says families who live in the area are upset that the city has “failed to enforce public health policies that would protect families, especially children in the Chamizal community.”
The organization is asking the City to stop operation of the cardboard recycling plants until they meet code or leave the Chamizal area.
“The City has neglected Chamizal barrio by not enforcing fire codes. It has also not taken any position on the maquila trucks on the free bridge. The city has refused to recognize the public health impact on the diesel truck contamination,” the organization said.
The organization is also asking the City to take a public health position regarding the diesel truck contamination by supporting an option to remove diesel trucks from the bridge.
The organization says the Environmental Protection Agency’s EJ screen tool revealed the area to be registered in “the 99th percentile for EJ indexes including diesel particulate matter, air toxins, cancer risk, and traffic proximity” regarding the diesel truck contamination.
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