The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday that S&W Atlas Iron and Metal Corp., a metal salvage and recycling yard located next to Jordan High School in Watts, has been charged with 24 criminal counts for illegally disposing of hazardous waste. The charges include 21 felony counts for knowingly disposing hazardous waste without a permit, one felony count for depositing hazardous waste, and single misdemeanor counts for public nuisance and failure to maintain a facility to prevent fires. The arraignment for the defendants, Gary and Matthew Weisenberg, owners of the company, is scheduled for Monday in downtown Los Angeles.
Benjamin Gluck, attorney for Atlas and the Weisenbergs, expressed disappointment with the charges and stated that Atlas is actively working with public agencies towards a resolution. However, Gluck mentioned that the district attorney declined to engage in discussions and opted to file charges instead. Gluck added that they will vigorously defend the case once they learn the details of the charges.
This is not the first legal issue for S&W Atlas. In 2020, they were sued by the Los Angeles Unified School District for endangering students and faculty at Jordan High. The lawsuit claimed that the salvage yard emitted hazardous substances, waste, and fumes, and even caused metal shrapnel to rain onto the campus during two explosions in 2002.
The District Attorney’s Office reported that soil samples taken at Jordan High showed high concentrations of lead and zinc, while samples taken at Atlas revealed excessive levels of seven metals. Additionally, metal debris believed to come from the Atlas facility was discovered on the school grounds. District Attorney George Gascón stated that charging Atlas Metal for their environmental crimes is a step towards justice for the children and community of Watts. He emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for actions that endanger the health of children, and called for prioritizing the well-being of communities over profits.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho welcomed the charges as an important step in addressing the harmful environmental impacts on schools caused by incompatible land uses. He acknowledged that underserved communities often face adverse industrial impacts resulting in air, water, and land pollution.
