River Metals Recycling, also known as RMR, has officially moved its shredding operations out of Newport and received dismissed charges in court.
Newport City staff and residents spent roughly four years in a court case requiring RMR to comply with noise regulations after neighbors reported sporadic and sometimes daily explosions for years.
Campbell County District Court Judge Cameron Blau determined on March 31 that RMR had fully complied with the terms and timeline outlined in a February 2024 agreement with the city and officially dismissed the charges.
River Metals Recycling Regional Manager Neal Coulardot said shredding operations in Newport were discontinued as of March 10 and moved to RMR’s new Cincinnati scrap recycling facility.
“RMR appreciates that both the City of Newport and Campbell County agree that it has fully complied with the Order of Diversion,” said Coulardot in a statement to LINK nky. “The Newport RMR facility will continue to operate as a collection, processing and transfer site. RMR fulfilled its commitment to the Court, the City of Newport and the community.
“RMR has invested millions of dollars to modernize its Cincinnati scrap recycling facility, including the installation of a pre-shredder, which is state-of-the-art in the metal recycling industry and the first of its kind in this region.”
Campbell County Property Valuation Administration records show that RMR purchased the Newport site at 1220 Licking Pike from Kirschner Properties LLC on Jan. 31 for $4 million.
Newport resident and Chair of the RMR Citizen’s Group Annette Kitchen, who has been involved with the case since the beginning, said that as RMR continues to operate as a collection site, large piles of scrap have begun to form there.
“It took many years, charges, and a court order to get RMR to stop shredding operations in Newport,” Kitchen said. “Though, look at what the residents are left with. Large junk piles throughout the campus and continued air quality levels [per ongoing study] from their continued intake, sorting, and other operations here in Newport. We will continue working with all partners to resolve this nuisance.”
Newport city officials said they will continue to monitor the site.
“The City of Newport is pleased that River Metals Recycling has fulfilled its court-ordered obligations, said Newport Assistant City Manager Brian Steffen. “We are optimistic this outcome will benefit nearby residents and improve quality of life in the surrounding area. While the settlement allows RMR to potentially resume shredding operations at the site, the city will remain vigilant in monitoring their activity to ensure compliance with the agreed order.”
