Neighbors Protest Area Recycling Plant

Tools

Neighbors Protest Area Recycling Plant

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Sep 8, 2007 at 11:45 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 16, 2007 at 10:44 AM EST

(WSBT) Some Elkhart County neighbors took to the streets Saturday protesting a nearby recycling plant they say is dangerous.

VIM Recycling makes mulch and animal bedding. Back in June, two explosions at the plant killed a worker and seriously injured another. People who live nearby were evacuated for hours while crews worked to put out the flames.

"People out here we’re all afraid they were going to lose their homes that night, I mean the fire was just tremendous,” Gloria Trosper said Saturday.

Trosper and some of her neighbors held signs that read “VIM is not a good neighbor” and “VIM needs to move” while walking in front of the company’s front gate.

“VIM is not a good neighbor, they’ve never been a good neighbor and they’re never gonna be a good neighbor,” said Gerald Hart who has lived in the neighborhood near the plant for the past 39 years.

The group says it doesn’t like the amount of saw dust in the air when the company grinds wood. They believe the dust is causing health problems, but not everyone agrees on what should happen to the plant.

“When they rebuild the'll have the new dust collector and everything else and we don’t want a grinder,” said Gloria Trosper.

“I don’t want to put 'em out of business I want to see 'em moved out of our neighborhood,” said Brandy Trosper.

“VIM needs to clean their act up. They need to be restricted to what they can do and can’t do,” said Hart.

The future of the VIM operations lies in the hands of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. IDEM will hold a public meeting Tuesday to discuss the issue with concerned neighbors.

WSBT News tried to contact VIM recycling Saturday but was not able to reach anyone for their reaction to the protest.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 45.3
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Paid Programming
7.30
Jeopardy
8.00
The Mentalist
9.00
48 Hours Mystery
10.00
48 Hours Mystery
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
CSI: NY
12.35
CSI: NY
1.35
CSI: Miami

Question of The Day

Will the new health recommendations for women change your health screening habits?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • YES
  • NO
Today's Mortgage Rates