EMR’s metal recycling plant in Camden, New Jersey, is expected to become fully operational this week after it had paused operations following a significant fire May 29.
The company has been following a phased reopening in recent days, running safety checks and conducting fire drills, reports WPVI.
The city of Camden had suspended the plant’s junkyard license in response to the latest fire. Earlier this month, a judge ruled the plant could reopen, with enhanced safety measures put in place.
EMR did not respond to a request for comment, but company lawyers said the suspension led to the layoffs of more than 300 employees and losses totaling tens of millions of dollars, reports WPVI. The city disputed those claims, saying its actions were necessary to protect public safety. There have been 12 fires over the past five years at the facility, the city said.
In a statement, EMR told the local outlet, “We are just as committed to improving the safety of the recycled material stream that has been upended by a flood of lithium-ion batteries that create demonstrated fire risks. EMR will continue to address risks to limit the entry of prohibited scrap with embedded lithium-ion batteries into our facilities.”
“This is ultimately a victory for Camden residents and a positive outcome particularly for the Waterfront South community,” the city’s mayor and city council president and vice president said in a joint statement. “Thankfully, EMR will now be required by the courts to run a safe site, and that has always been our top priority.”
EMR and the city are scheduled to return to court Aug. 17.
The Camden officials also applauded the signing, earlier this month, of New Jersey bill A2401 into law by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The law was written by Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden, Gloucester) in response to the incidents at the EMR facility.
The new law requires certain scrap metal businesses to install heat detection equipment capable of identifying potential hot spots before fires start, develop fire safety plans in coordination with local fire officials and demonstrate compliance with enhanced fire prevention standards.
“Tougher regulations will now be in place to ensure a safer operation at EMR,” the Camden officials said.
“This bill is for the residents of Waterfront South, who have feared for their health and safety for far too long,” said Moen in a statement following the bill’s passage.
The US and Canada saw 448 fires in 2025 at recycling facilities, causing more than $2.5 billion in damage, said analyst Ryan Fogelman in his latest annual report.
EMR’s US operations are headquartered in Camden, and the global company is based in the UK. In the US the company has 54 sites, three shredders and more than 1,800 employees, according to its website.
