EPA agreement with California recycler aims to reduce pollution in San Francisco Bay
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated an Administrative Order on Consent with Radius Recycling Inc. in response to Clean Water Act violations at the company's metal recycling facility in Oakland, California. The order targets the plant's discharge of pollutants into the Oakland Inner Harbor and San Francisco Bay in violation of the facility’s permit under the Clean Water Act.
"This order requires Radius Recycling to improve the quality of water discharges leaving the facility, which will help reduce the flow of pollutants into San Francisco Bay,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Director for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Amy Miller in a press release. “In addition, this agreement will improve the general cleanliness of the site and address local community health and safety concerns.”
Wastewater discharge from the Radius Recycling facility exceeded National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limitations for zinc, copper and acute water toxicity. To correct those exceedances, Radius will install a new granular activated carbon treatment unit capable of reducing metals below effluent limitations. Radius will also develop and implement a Water Pollution Prevention Plan that increases inspections of the site and strengthens cleaning and maintenance measures.
San Francisco Bay is a critical resource for 7.5 million people living in the Bay Area. The Bay is known to have elevated levels of metals which cause harm to wildlife, bioaccumulate in fish which are consumed by residents, and may pose additional risk to human health.
In January 2025, EPA signed a memorandum of understanding with Radius Recycling, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), other state regulators, and a community organization to address the impacts of the company’s metal shredding operation on the West Oakland community. That MOU marked a new collaborative approach by government agencies, industry and communities to solving health and safety concerns.