South Omaha residents raise concerns over auto shredder permit

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A huge machine that shreds autos into small pieces is a big issue for some neighbors in South Omaha.

The city put brakes on the auto shredder after discovering U-Pull-It didn’t possess all the necessary permits.

“Unfortunately, in a project of this size and scope, there were some things that were unintentionally looked past,” said Jason Alberico with U-Pull-It.

Some neighbors don’t want the planning board to move forward and allow the hammer mill machine to be turned on.

“Breaking of rules that this company has done with the health risk to my community, plus the trust of such a high volume, hazardous process should not be placed in a company with no concern from us,” said neighbor Stephanie Matthews.

But U-Pull-It says the health and safety of residents is top priority.

“I have three generations of my family working here and to say we are intentionally doing something hazardous is absurd,” Alberico said. “I wouldn’t put my own family at risk.”

Noise reducers are being proposed, air quality will be monitored and numerous catchalls like pig socks can be paid down to keep hazardous waste from leaking into the nearby Papio Creek.

The company has thousands of pounds of floor dry to soak up excess fluid drained out of the vehicles and they use straw swales to prevent it from leaking away from the site.

But a fire on Tuesday at U-Pull-It in Lincoln raised concerns about lithium batteries igniting metal grindings from the auto shredder at the Omaha site.

“We don’t like to be concerned,” said community leader Don Preister. “The pictures we saw of the fire in Lincoln were pretty dramatic and people were even more concerned after having seen that.”

U-Pull-It says thermal imaging cameras will watch the machine for any flames before they get out of hand.

“We have the capacity on site to deal with a multi-alarm fire,” Alberico said.

But city planners recommend the board not grant a permit to turn on the shred yet.

“There are still environmental concerns and items that have not been adequately addressed,” said city planner Eric Englund.

The board voted to table the permit request, but U-Pull-It had flyers on the table outside the hearing questioning who is behind Nebraska Future Fund, which is campaigning against the shredder.

“I’m near certain that it is our competition operating like machinery that is stirring this up,” Alberico said.

Attorney Tom White represents the non-profit.

“We have a whole coalition of people with interest in environmental laws being enforced, period,” White said.

When the planning board takes up the permit issue again, possibly in a few months, both sides will present every shred of evidence to turn the hammer mill on or keep it off.

Another concern raised by neighbors is the auto shredder bringing in more trucks, so they want the city to conduct a traffic study. U-Pull-It says the grinding of large car parts into small pieces means fewer trucks are needed to transport the recycling material.

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