Public Health

NO! The metal-shredding process is NOT a threat to public health. California’s major metal recycling facilities use state-of-the-art equipment and procedures to protect public health and the environment. California’s major shredding facilities are spending millions of dollars to upgrade structures and equipment to minimize the potential for any process materials to escape the facility. These measures are ongoing and are effective in controlling off-site releases. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has never produced any scientific evidence that metal-shredding facilities pose a threat to public health or the environment. DTSC conducted three continuous days of ambient air monitoring at three different shredding facilities. No toxic air contaminants were detected in excess of air quality standards. California shredders have been operating safely for more than 50 years. The facilities are located in industrial and port areas, well away from schools, homes and other sensitive uses. In some cases, longtime neighbors are not even aware of their presence. While fires can occur at metal-shredding facilities, these are not common occurrences. Rigorous fire prevention and control practices are followed by all facilities. Shredder facilities are closely regulated by state boards and agencies, including regional air and water boards, as well as local agencies referred to as Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPA). These agencies are charged with the responsibility of enforcing environmental regulations and inspect shredding facilities on a regular basis to ensure they are operating in compliance.

NO! Incoming scrap metal awaiting shredding is not a hazard. These are large pieces of metal like water heaters, household appliances and crushed cars. Incoming scrap metal is staged in paved areas and is shredded within 24-48 hours of receipt. Stockpiles are routinely monitored and protected prior to shredding.

Processed metal products are also stockpiled for shipment and do not pose a risk. These products are solid metal objects that do not leach or emit pollutants into the air.

DTSC has determined that the material left over after valuable metals have been removed from the material produced by the shredder does NOT pose a risk to human health or the environment. This material is called treated metal shredder residue (MSR) and is classified by DTSC as nonhazardous waste.

The small amount of remaining metal that is contained in the treated MSR is chemically bound in the residue, greatly reducing its ability to leach into the environment.

For more than 30 years, treated MSR has been allowed by DTSC and other regulators to be used in municipal landfills as daily cover. After decades of use, no releases to groundwater have ever been detected, even in unlined landfills. Additionally, air monitoring devices placed on landfill equipment show no hazardous air emissions.

Light fibrous material (LFM) is basically shredded polyester fabric that is used in vehicle carpets and other fabric components. This material is very light and can become airborne and blow offsite if not properly managed. This material has been evaluated according to DTSC health risk assessment protocols and under typical exposure scenarios, does NOT pose a significant health risk, even to sensitive receptors (e.g., children).

LFM is too large to be inhaled (i.e., is “non-respirable”).

LFM also cannot be absorbed through the skin.

Someone could accidentally ingest LFM but this is very unlikely. LFM would be obvious on someone’s hands and would be brushed or washed off rather than eaten.

DTSC’s own risk assessor reached the same conclusion and stated at a community meeting that LFM does not pose a risk to local residents based on the very low potential for exposure.

While LFM is technically categorized as “hazardous” according to state regulatory thresholds, these thresholds pertain to hypothetical releases from wastes in a landfill setting and are not based on real-life risks to human health.

Major improvements have been made at shredding facilities, at a cost of millions of dollars, to minimize the potential for LFM to become airborne and blow offsite.

NO! Employees at California shredding facilities are NOT subject to greater health risks. Many employees have worked at these facilities for decades and have not suffered adverse health effects.

Periodic industrial hygiene testing is conducted (e.g., blood lead levels) and there have been no levels of any harmful chemicals detected that exceeded health-based standards. Worker safety at these California plants is the best in the world.