HOUSTON — A fire erupted on June 22 at the Mammoth Metals Recycling plant in Houston's East End. The blaze involved a large accumulation of trash and debris, primarily tires, located on the property near Manchester and Kellogg Street.

Records from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) indicate that Mammoth Metals is not listed among the current scrap tire facility operators in Texas. The TCEQ confirmed that the company does not have a current scrap tire registration, which is required for any facility that recycles tires according to state regulations. The only active permits belonging to Mammoth Metals from the TCEQ are for stormwater and air sources.

In addition to state requirements, facilities are mandated by the City of Houston to acquire a local scrap tire facility permit. The City of Houston's tire inspection team determined that Mammoth Metals has not received a permit for tire disposal, transport, or storage under the city's scrap tire ordinance.

The incident highlights regulatory gaps identified by both state and local authorities regarding the storage and burning of scrap materials. Officials noted that the lack of proper registration and permits means the facility was operating outside of established environmental safety protocols at the time of the fire.