For the last five years, Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment (CHASE) has been fighting the construction of a Metro Green recycling plant in a residential part of Stonecrest, where CHASE activist Jennifer Wilson has lived for 30 years. After victories for CHASE, Metro Green has recently filed suit in federal court seeking a 35M judgment.  As Ms. Wilson reflects in her conversation with SCoRE Associate Director Ruthie Yow, "We're not just fighting for ourselves, we're fighting for future generations."

Ruthie Yow: Can you set the scene and provide the context? When did you first become aware that Metro Green was going to develop a facility on property near your home?

Jennifer Wilson: The issue first came to our attention during the COVID pandemic when everyone was working from home.  My husband noticed some clearing of land near the exit of our subdivision.  He began researching what was being developed by checking the Dekalb County website, and eventually he discovered that the property was part of the city of Stonecrest.  At that time, we thought it might be another subdivision.  My husband reached out to the City of Stonecrest and learned it wasn't going to be a residential development but a recycling plant.  It was labeled as "recycling" but in reality, the plant would involve crushing cement and sorting other materials - more akin to a landfill than anything else.

Once we found out, we started contacting local political representatives, including state representatives, but initially we weren't making much progress.  However, one of the state representatives visited the site, and that's when I met people like Renee Cail and Pyper Bunch, although Pyper and I had been neighbors for years and our children knew each other but we had not met yet.  We soon discovered that Metro had been denied twice by Dekalb County due to non-compliance with the county's solid waste management plan.  At that time, Stonecrest was still a relatively new city and had to adhere to certain regulations set by Dekalb County.  How Metro Green was successful in securing the paperwork to start to build was a mystery at that time.

Afterward, CHASE, and organization we worked with, partnered with an environmental attorney to help us fight Metro Green.  Around the same time, Stonecrest realized it had been duped by Metro Green and filed a lawsuit to stop the facility.  The first step for us was to see if the judge would allow the community to participate in the lawsuit or if we would have to just watch this play out in court.  I am so thankful we were allowed to have an active voice.  I can still remember like it was yesterday when the judge told Metro Green: "build at your own risk."  By then, Metro Green had spent about $75,000 according to their attorneys.  After a couple of years, Judge Barrie ruled in favor of the community.  Metro Green appealed and was granted partial concessions.  They finished building and then they needed a license and certificate of occupancy - which the City of Stonecrest later denied because the facility violates the city's zoning ordinance.  A hearing officer upheld the City's ruling denying the local licenses, which we were very pleased with.  Unfortunately, Metro Green has appealed that ruling and has also now taken the case to Federal court. 

It's important to note that this site is just 50 feet away from residential homes.  Imagine if something like last year's chemical fire with BioLab occurred at this location - the potential loss of life would be devastating.  The land is surrounded by subdivisions and even an apartment complex.  Metro Green proposed putting up a soundproof barrier, but it appears more like a regular privacy fence.

Recently, I read an article written by Zachary Hanson with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Initially, he reported the facts we shared with him about the company's activities, but the latest piece he wrote was deeply troubling.  If you read the article without understanding the full context, you might wonder what the problem is.  Of course, there are other, more suitable locations for this type of facility, far away from residential areas, but Metro Green chose this one seemingly without concern for public opposition.

It's rare for a community to find itself in a court battle before a business has even started operating.  Typically, you hear about lawsuits years down the road after people have suffered health issues like cancer, but we are fighting this at the onset.  Metro Green has the financial resources to keep this tied up in the courts for a long time, but it's unfortunate that the community continues to bear the burden of this issue.  Anyone with a conscience can see that this situation is wrong.  We are not opposed to business development - we want this area to thrive - but the potential risks posed by a cement-crushing facility so close to homes are concerning.  The safety of our foundations, the impact on traffic, and the general welfare of the neighborhood are all at risk, especially with the increased truck traffic on these narrow streets.

RY: What other effects do you worry the facility would have on the environment, community health, and quality of life?

JW: One major concern is the stream on the property that flows into the South River, which is already heavily polluted.  The impact of a facility like this on an already compromised water system is worrisome.  There's also a school less than a mile away from the proposed site, which raises concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the area.

We are also concerned about diesel emissions from heavy duty trucks coming in and out of the area. 

Beyond that, I'm still learning about all the potential risks, but there are a few things that have already stood out.  When they started clearing the land, the stench was unbearable.  To know that we would be subjected to the constant pounding, along with the long lines of trucks that would be coming through to unload, would be disruptive.  The more I investigate it, the more I realize that facilities like this should be located in heavy industrial zones, far from residential areas.  If I had known this facility would be proposed when I purchased my home 30 years ago, I wouldn't have bought here.  It's not just an inconvenience - it's a threat to the community's quality of life.

RY: What has been the impact on your life of working with the women of CHASE?

JW: Working with the women of CHASE has been a powerful and eye-opening experience.  Jacquelyn Bryant, who spoke at the last hearing, we call her "Jake."  She's calm and measured in her speaking, but her passion is undeniable.  Unfortunately, as Black women, when we speak up strongly, we are often labeled as aggressive, which is something I know I can sometimes be perceived as.  Jake, though, has such a soft approach; people focus on the substance of what she's saying rather than how she delivers it, which is something I admire.

Then there's Renee - she's incredibly knowledgeable. She's been doing this work for so long, and her expertise in environmental issues has been invaluable to all of us.  Pyper is amazing with social media.  She's been a driving force in getting the word out and keeping the community informed.  Kamla jumped right in to create t-shirts and signs.  As for me, I've helped create flyers and statements, so we all bring our own strengths to the table.  It's truly an amazing group of women.  It's not just us, we have support from others in our community which include local politicians, but we need more visibility and support as we continue this fight against Metro Green.

We've learned so much from Renee, who really leads the charge on understanding environmental issues in our community.  I'm so grateful for the support of these women, and also for my husband, who has passed now.  But it's been a gift to come together with this group.  We've connected the dots, and in doing so, we've learned so much more about the potential environmental impacts of these kinds of facilities on our community.

We're not just fighting for ourselves - we're fighting for future generations.  We know that other businesses are also watching what we're doing.  We've already seen businesses withdraw their plans when they see the opposition we've put up.  We've even had a couple of other cement companies show interest in the area and we hope that they aren't allowed to be this close to any residential areas as well.  Back when this was still Dekalb County, there were measures in place to prevent these kinds of developments.  For example, there's still a landfill over on Flat Shoals, and you can see buzzards circling when you enter the surrounding subdivisions.  But that's the last one in the area because Dekalb County too action to shut down similar facilities.

Now, with Stonecrest being a new city, Metro Green saw an opportunity to take advantage of that.  But we're not going to let that happen without a fight.  We're building a coalition of people to stand with us to prevent Metro Green from moving forward.  This isn't just about a group of women who don't want certain businesses in their neighborhood - this is about a serious hazard.  This facility would affect families, including young children, and could pose significant health risks.  Studies who that African Americans already face higher rates of asthma and other respiratory issues.  So, why is it acceptable to expose our community to these elevated hazards?

RY: Where are you now in your fight?

JW: Right now, Metro Green has appealed the City's denial of their business license, which is in state court.  Metro Green has also filed a lawsuit in a federal court against Stonecrest complaining about the City's refusal to let them operate.  We're at the point where we're exploring our options, trying to figure out the best course of action moving forward.  My biggest hope is that the City of Stonecrest doesn't get intimidated by the potential threat of a $35 million judgment.  I'm praying they will continue to stand with us, as they have in the past, and recognize the importance of protecting the community.

This fight has been about more than just one business proposal - it's about standing up for the health, safety, and quality of life of the people in this neighborhood.  We've come a long way, and we won't stop pushing for what's right.  It's about ensuring that our voices are heard, that our concerns are taken seriously, and that our community is protected from further harm.

As we move forward, I hope other communities take note of what we're fighting for here.  This isn't just a local issue - it's a larger conversation about how businesses must be held accountable when they seek to operate in areas where their impact could be harmful.  We're committed to keeping this fight alive until we get the outcome that's best for everyone who calls this community home.