MRE/UARP Taskforce Update 2025: Next Steps

Apr 22

A SWU staff member, along with a staff member of Public Citizen, a staff member from Society of Native Nations, and other members from the community have been sitting on the Metal Recycling Entities/Used Auto Recycling Plant (MRE/UARP) task force for the past few months. This task force was assembled by City of San Antonio in response to a Council Consideration Request (CCR) written by District 5 City Councilwoman, Teri Castillo. This CCR was written after a 10 hour long fire erupted at Monterrey Iron and Metal and after many months of community members raising concerns about the reoccurring fires, health concerns from pollution created during the metal recycling process, and noise complaints, among other concerns.

The task force was made up of 8 industry representatives and 8 community appointed members. SWU staff served as the District 2 appointee. The meetings ran from September 2024- late April 2025 with the last meeting being held last night on Monday, April 21st. You can find meeting minutes, recordings, and slide shows here.

Community Representatives for the MRE/UARP Task Force are seen smiling and standing together on a flight of stairs

The current proposal being brought to City Council will include:

Updating the compliance codes for MRE/UARPs [which haven’t been updated in over 12 years]
More enforcement language added to the codes with quicker enforcement
Language that discourages the concentration of MRE/UARPs [currently District 4 & District 5 hold over 75% of these type of recycling business] by including a 1000ft distance from current MRE/UARPs for new MRE/UARPs being built
More definitions for community use-including definitions for “fluff” also known as “Shredder Residue”

The next step is Department of Developmental Services will present the proposal to the Planning and Community Development Committee on Thursday April 24th at 10am at City Hall (100 Military Plaza). You can see the agenda and sign up to speak on agenda item #3 here. It is important to show strong community support for this proposal so that City of San Antonio code enforcement officers can help MRE/UARPs to be good neighbors. If you want to help support with a public comment but are unsure of what to say, you can email Erica@swunion.org for help.

Thanks to all the community members who have already come to the task force meetings to make a public comment and show their support for stricter compliance codes for MRE/UARPs!