Attorneys will host a June 16 community meeting in Camden to answer residents’ questions about the lawsuit.

A class action lawsuit filed by three Camden residents against EMR Advanced Recycling alleges that years of fires, smoke, soot, and foul odors from the company’s scrapyard have disrupted life in nearby neighborhoods and interfered with residents’ use and enjoyment of their homes.

The lawsuit, filed May 28 in federal court, alleges that emissions from EMR’s scrap metal recycling facilities in Camden have affected nearby homes for years, making it difficult for residents to open windows, spend time outdoors, and fully enjoy their properties.

Residents Sandra Wiles, Celestine Wallace, and Deandra Smith are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that was also filed on behalf of thousands of other residents who live near EMR’s facilities at 1400 S. Front St. and 1500 S. Sixth St. in Camden. The lawsuit seeks to include roughly 4,000 households in the surrounding neighborhood in the class action.

EMR recycles scrap metal, including vehicles, appliances, and batteries. The company uses an industrial shredder, known as a hammermill, to break materials into smaller pieces for processing. That process can release pollutants and strong odors if not properly controlled.

According to the lawsuit, dust, soot, smoke, and debris from the facility have settled on homes and properties throughout the neighborhood. The emissions may contain potentially hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and zinc.

“The noxious emissions are continuing,” according to the lawsuit, which alleges that EMR has failed to take reasonable steps to prevent pollution from escaping the facility and entering nearby residential areas.

Residents say the pollution has affected daily life.

Wiles, who has asthma, said in the lawsuit that poor air quality prevented her from using air conditioning or opening windows and forced her to stay with family for several days. Wallace said she installed air purifiers and new windows in her home because of the conditions. Smith said soot accumulated on her property and that she had to evacuate during a major fire in February of 2025.

Other residents mentioned in the lawsuit described smelling burning metal, finding soot on cars and porches, and keeping children indoors when air quality worsened.

The lawsuit points to a long history of fires at the scrapyard.

Court filings cite fires in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026. A major four-alarm fire on Feb. 21, 2025, sent thick black smoke over Camden that could be seen from miles away and prompted city officials to issue a shelter-in-place advisory. More than 100 families were displaced by that fire, according to the lawsuit.

Following the 2025 fire, EMR entered into an agreement with the city requiring the company to invest millions of dollars in fire prevention measures, reimburse the city for damaged firefighting equipment, and contribute money to community organizations. The company also agreed to cease operations at its South Sixth Street scrapyard.

More recently, Camden suspended EMR’s junkyard license for its shredder facility following another fire in late May. The city’s order cited “public nuisance conditions” at the site and noted at least 12 fires on EMR property over the past five years.

The lawsuit alleges many of those fires were preventable and stemmed from the facility’s handling of flammable materials, including lithium-ion batteries commonly found in vehicles and electronics. EMR representatives have previously said lithium-ion batteries were the suspected cause of some fires.

State regulators have also cited EMR for environmental violations. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued multiple notices of violation between 2020 and 2021 alleging that EMR failed to obtain required permits, improperly stored waste materials, and lacked adequate firefighting equipment. In 2023, the company entered into a settlement with state regulators over earlier fires and paid nearly $100,000 in penalties and fines.

In January, the attorney general and the Department of Environmental Protection sued EMR, alleging that repeated fires, smoke, and air pollution from several facilities constituted a public nuisance.

In a previous statement responding to state litigation, EMR said it had invested in fire suppression measures under an agreement with Camden officials. Company representatives expressed a willingness to work with state regulators to address lithium-ion battery fires, which the company said are a growing problem for recycling facilities nationwide. The company also said the safety of employees and Camden residents is its top priority.

The residents’ lawsuit seeks compensation for diminished property values, loss of use and enjoyment of homes, cleaning costs, and expenses associated with evacuating during fires. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs are also seeking court orders requiring EMR to reduce emissions and prevent future pollution.

Lawyers from Liddle Sheets, P.C., and Cohen & Riechelson will host a community meeting for residents on June 16 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Camden County Library, 852 Ferry Ave., to answer questions about the lawsuit. Cohen & Riechelson is based in Hamilton, New Jersey. Liddle Sheets, P.C., is a nationwide class action law firm based in Detroit.