Metals

Federal judge terminates Chicago recycler’s lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed Chicago-based Southside Recycling’s lawsuit against the city of Chicago. Southside Recycling, which has constructed a scrap recycling facility on the city’s southeast side, filed a federal lawsuit in mid-May seeking a court order directing the city of Chicago to issue a large recycling facility permit to the company. The lawsuit alleges the city wrongfully failed to issue the last permit needed for the facility to begin operating, despite acknowledging for months that Southside Recycling had satisfied its requirements.

Southside Recycling and RMG Investment Group LLC filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Chicago against the city of Chicago and Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. The company sought a court order that would direct Arwady to issue the final permit, alleging that the city broke its agreement with RMG and violated the company’s constitutional rights by taking private property without just compensation. The company also sought more than $100 million in damages arising from the permit delay.

U.S. District Judge Robert M. Dow Jr. rejected Southside Recycling’s claim that its constitutional rights were violated. He writes that the arguments in the dispute are better suited for state court and that the case is terminated.

“Southside Recycling will immediately seek a prompt ruling in state court ordering the city to issue the permit, based on the city’s broken promises and the fact that we have met every requirement imposed by the city’s own rules, which businesses have a right to rely upon,” Southside Recycling states in response to the ruling. “Despite multiple attempts since early May to understand how and when the city intends to proceed, the additional analysis that it is purportedly intending to perform remains undefined and the timing undetermined.”

The company adds that it is “damaging to the environment and the local metal recycling market” that its project is on hold while “the only other shredder in Chicago continues to operate without pollution controls.”

Southside Recycling refiled the lawsuit in Illinois state court July 1.

Triple M acquires Ontario scrap firm

Brampton, Ontario-based Triple M Metal LP has announced the acquisition of Peterborough Iron & Metal (PIM), which operates scrap facilities in Peterborough, Port Hope and Minden, Ontario, in the eastern part of the Canadian province.

“We are excited to bring PIM under the Triple M Metal LP umbrella and leverage our international reach with PIM’s local presence,” states Triple M President Oscar Moniz in a company website posting. “For the time being, the yards will continue to run under their current names.”

Moniz also credits Mark Dickomeit, who has been a partner and owner/operator of PIM for the previous 10 years, for having “grown PIM to be a significant player in eastern Ontario.” He adds, “We are excited to have Mark and his dedicated team join our growing organization. This addition reflects our organization’s commitment to maintaining our position as Ontario’s premier metals recycler.”

Moniz continues, “With a strong customer base and strategically located yards, the PIM acquisition is in line with our short-term and long-term sustainability goals. The additional feeder yards and processing sites further strengthen our presence in Ontario and help to solidify our place as Ontario’s largest scrap metal processor.”

During the previous four decades, Triple M “has evolved into one of the largest independent scrap companies in North America,” he says.

Including the newly acquired PIM sites, Triple M now operates 19 sites in Ontario and 31 in North America. In addition, Triple M’s sister company Matalco is a multilocation consumer of aluminum scrap, producing billet in several melt shop locations in the United States and Canada.