General Iron installs RTO to control metal shredder emissions

Chicago-based General Iron Industries Inc., a metal shredding and recycling facility, now is operating a $2 million regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) that enables the company to comply fully with a state requirement to reduce uncontrolled VOC emissions.

Since the installation was completed in July, General Iron and the U.S. EPA have reached an agreed Administrative Consent Order resolving alleged violations the EPA issued last year.

In late 2017 the EPA requested air emissions testing and, in response, General Iron proposed installing the RTO. The air tests, supervised by the EPA in May and June 2018, resulted in a notice of violation regarding VOC emissions but found that no emissions of metals or filterable particulate matter violated any permitted levels or applicable requirements.

The consent order memorializes the installation and operation of the RTO and sets a timetable for demonstrating its efficiency and obtaining the proper permit, fully resolving the notice that the EPA issued in July 2018.