Alameda County DA Dismisses Toxic Fire Charges Against West Oakland Recycling Plant

Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson has dismissed criminal charges against Radius Recycling, a West Oakland scrap metal processing plant, for a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke, citing insufficient evidence to meet the burden of proof. The case, initially pursued by former DA Pamela Price who secured a grand jury indictment with 10 counts and sought up to $33 million in fines, had involved testimony from 50 witnesses and numerous exhibits. Jones Dickson emphasized the ethical obligation to only proceed with cases that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and indicated a review of the Consumer and Environmental Protection Division’s cases following concerns about outside law firms being involved in prosecutorial work. Environmental justice advocates and Price have strongly criticized the dismissal, calling it a setback for holding corporations accountable for environmental harm and expressing concern over the implications of not having an elected DA. While the dismissal does not rule out future criminal or civil actions against Radius Recycling, local advocates see it as a blow to the community affected by the fire's environmental impact. The 2023 fire triggered multiple complaints about air quality and led to a $575,000 fine from environmental regulators.