Judge Approves Sale Of Abandoned Hazelwood Recycling Company

HAZELWOOD (KDKA) – A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of an abandoned recycling company in Hazelwood to a new buyer.

Residents in the area said the problems starts when the Pittsburgh Recycling Company went bankrupt. The owners moved and left all the trash behind.

Today, the new buyer said they hope to close on the property by Thursday. The new buyer also said cleanup of the property will begin within five days after closing.

"It'll probably take in the next week or so to get started, re-mediating the problem to completion is something that is unknown," said Kirk Burkley, the attorney representing the new owners.

It was purchased by a Pittsburgh-based holding company for $1.3 million.

"We're going to be doing vector control, cleaning up the site, processing the material that you see laying around and just generally creating a more sanitary condition for the facility," Burkley said.

The news comes as a relief for some neighbors, who complained about the smell and a growing rat problem.

However, there is some concern over rat cleanup with the nearby Hays bald eagle nest, as rats are on the eagles' menu. Environmentalists worry the poison used to kill the rats could kill the eagles.

"We are under instructions to solve the rat problem and that includes baiting," said Burkley. "So, certainly we'll take that concern and talk to all the appropriate officials about it."

Pittsburgh Recycling Company filed for bankruptcy over the winter. Several employees said they're still owed several weeks' pay as well.

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