Atlas Iron and Metal Corp, a Los Angeles County recycling facility, faces more than two dozen charges for allegedly dumping hazardous waste onto an adjacent school in Watts.
District Attorney George Gascón announced the 25-count grand jury indictment on Thursday, which includes a charge stemming from an explosion at the scrap metal yard last month.
“We will hold companies accountable when they put profits over people and endanger the well-being of our neighborhoods. This latest charge is a reminder that the safety of our communities must come first,” Gascón said.
The owners pleaded not guilty and expected to return to court on Oct 28.
Atlas has faced backlash for the past few years after community members claimed the recycling facility has sent shrapnel onto the school’s campus and has exposed students at the neighboring Jordan High School to toxic chemicals. According to the Los Angeles Unified School District, there are dangerous levels of lead and other metals on the campus amounting to 75 times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency defines as hazardous.