Complaints prompt relocation of concrete recycling plant

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez have announced a plan to cease operations at a DOT concrete recycling facility in Brooklyn by the end of this year.

The facility in the Columbia Street Waterfront District in Brooklyn “comes in response to ongoing concerns,” says the mayor’s office in a July 11 announcement. New York-based news website The Gothamist, in a July online article, says those complaints focused on “dust so thick it blanketed nearby residents’ cars and windows.”

The mayor also ties the crushing plant closure into the potential Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment plan proposed by planners and developers for the region.

“This move not only clears the way for much-needed housing, open space and a school as part of our proposed Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) project but also reflects our city’s deep commitment to continuing to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” says Adams.

Remarks DOT Commissioner Rodriguez, “While concrete recycling is a critical part of DOT’s work to make our streets safer and more accessible, we’ve heard loud and clear from local residents that this temporary facility has disrupted their quality of life.”

Adds Rodriguez, “In response to residents’ concerns and as the BMT redevelopment is discussed, we will cease concrete recycling work and accelerate the timeline for the planned closure of this temporary facility.”

The news release indicates the concrete recycling facility will be relocated to an alternate location the DOT and mayor’s office do not identify.

The city says the current Columbia Street Waterfront District facility opened in 2024 to accommodate the development of renewable energy (wind turbines) installation at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.

“I’m grateful to City Hall for listening to the community and the coalition of elected officials and advocates urging the closure of the disruptive and hazardous concrete facility on the site of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal,” says Brooklyn-based United States Representative Dan Goldman.

“As I've said time and time again, we shouldn't have to choose between sustainable recycling and the health of our communities,” says New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “We can do right by our environment and by our neighbors, and recycle concrete without forcing Brooklyn residents to breathe in toxic dust.”