Dozens Protest against Proposed Aluminum Recycling Plant in Benson

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): More than 2,000 people have signed a petition against building a 200-acre aluminum recycling plant in Benson.

During a meeting Monday night, many came to protest outside the city council chambers and claimed the city hasn’t been transparent.

Dozens held up signs and yelled chants. Most who came were senior members of the community, and some were even cancer survivors.

“We can’t have a cancer-producing plant here, where people are retiring,” said Benson resident Carol McCall, a kidney cancer survivor.

Chris Holland, another cancer survivor, told 13 News, “If they think for a minute I want to be exposed to more carcinogens, and I’m upset I never saw this on social media, no signage, they slid it under the rug.”

Many worry that the massive industrial plant will release hazardous air pollutants, posing a health risk to the people living nearby. Also, the plant would allegedly use large amounts of water.

“The impact of this thing, of this project, is a lot bigger than I think a lot of people understood, and I don’t think this project fits here in a rural area,” said Benson resident Stephen Moran. “Because it affects our air quality and they’re going to be pumping thousands of gallons of water from the ground.”

City leadership believes the project will be good for the community, claiming that the plant will bring economic development, jobs, and opportunity.

Many residents claim they were unaware of the big project and are putting pressure on the Benson City Council to stop its construction.

City Manager Greg Volker said the city’s hands are tied because Mississippi-based company Aluminum Dynamics purchased the land that was already zoned for a heavy industrial purpose.

“They purchased the property,” Volker said. “This property is zoned. They followed the city code and the state regulatory, they’re allowed to move in. They have the right to do that. The city actually has no right to stop them.”

Some Cochise County residents are calling for signatures for a petition to recall the mayor and council.

Some told 13 News that it’s because they feel city leadership isn’t hearing their concerns.

“A lot of people tried to express their concerns and opinions, and they felt like the city council didn’t care and the city council was not interested,” Moran said.

Benson said it is waiting for a decision on the permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

The city will host a public hearing to hear concerns about the aluminum dynamics plant. That meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21.

Courtesy: www.kold.com