Charity concerned about dust from nearby recycling plant

ATLANTA — A local charity is concerned about what they said a metal recycling company is putting into the air.

A thin layer of dust covers the property at the Caring for Others charity on Browns Mill Road in southeast Atlanta. Joyce Smith said the leaves and flowers in the backyard are brown as a result of the metal recycler that moved in a few months ago.

Smith said the mess is only part of the problem.

"We don't know what we're breathing," Smith said.

The charity combats poverty. They called Channel 2 Action News after their calls to local and state officials failed to get results.

Channel 2's Carl Willis went to talk with the manager at MTD Recycling on Hamilton Boulevard.

The manager did not want to talk to us at first.

"Why can't you tell us if you're doing the right thing or not?" Willis asked manager Bob Brown.

"We are doing the right thing," Brown said. "We are absolutely doing the right thing. The thing is, it was brought to our attention that there was a problem. We've done remedial efforts to fix the problem and that's it."

Brown further explained that another manager had been fired as a result of the issue. He also said the problem could be due to a faulty piece of equipment.

"What is it that's going into the air?" Willis asked. "There's nothing going into the air actually," said Brown. "There was a little bit of a problem and you know what, we fixed it and we're fine."

Still, a large piece of equipment could be seen from the roadway kicking up thick brown dust into the air.

Smith said  people working and volunteering at the charity have had serious reactions, including a landscaper.

"While he was cutting the grass his nose started to bleed, so he had to stop and come in," she said.

Brown said he was unaware of any negative impact on the charity.

"Do you see any dust?" Brown asked Willis. "There is some on the other side," Willis answered. "It's on the ground. It's on the grass."

Smith said that a state agency is running air quality tests.

"People see what's going on," she said. "We need to get them to take care of what they're doing. Be good neighbors and help us to clean up this issue."

Brown said he wants to work with the charity and says the recycling company may be able to help with cleanup.

WSBTV