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At a Glance

Facility Name: Aevitas Specialty Services Corp.
Address: 663 Lycaste Street, Detroit MI 48214
Current Operator / Owner: Aevitas Specialty Services Corp. (Canadian-based waste-oil and solvent-recycling company)
Facility Type: Hazardous-waste processing and solvent-recycling plant
EPA ID: MID985566629
Operating License #HWL-001299, expired 2023 pending renewal
Key Pollutants: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur compounds, particulate matter (PM), combustion emissions
Primary Oversight: Michigan EGLE (AQD and MMD), U.S. EPA Region 5, and City of Detroit BSEED
Coverage Period: 2019 – present
Verified Sources: EPA ECHO | EGLE MiEnviro | EGLE Press Release (July 2025) | City Council LPD Report (2025) | BridgeDetroit Coverage (July 2025)

Facility Overview

Aevitas Specialty Services Corp. operated a solvent-recycling and waste-oil treatment plant in Detroit’s east-side industrial corridor. The facility accepted used solvents, fuels, and industrial sludges for processing and resale as blended fuel or reclaimed material. Operations included tank storage, chemical separation, and fuel-blending within a cluster of enclosed buildings at 663 Lycaste Street, roughly two blocks south of East Jefferson Avenue near Conner Creek.

For years, the plant functioned as a regional hub for industrial waste recycling under EGLE’s hazardous-waste and air-permit frameworks. Its operations produced frequent odors and visible vapors documented by state inspectors and community complaints. In June 2025, a major fire and explosion brought the site to national attention and have been halted operations under state and federal investigation.

Emissions Profile

According to records in EGLE MiEnviro and EPA ECHO, Aevitas’s operations were associated with emissions typical of solvent recovery and waste-oil processing facilities. These included:

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): from tank vents, fuel blending, and chemical transfer.
  • Sulfur compounds and odorous gases: from storage and heating of mixed hydrocarbon wastes.
  • Particulate matter (PM): from truck traffic and residue handling.
  • Combustion pollutants (CO, NOₓ): from diesel vehicles and on-site equipment.

EGLE’s Air Quality Division regulates these sources under state permit conditions and Michigan Rule 901(b), which prohibits visible emissions or odors that interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property. The emissions listed represent categories managed under permit oversight and do not describe community exposure or health risk.

Compliance & Enforcement History (2019 – Present)

Between 2019 and 2025, EGLE and EPA records show recurring odor and storage violations at Aevitas. Inspections in 2019 and 2020 documented strong hydrocarbon odors and visible emissions crossing the property line, leading to multiple Violation Notices under Rule 901(b). EGLE required the company to revise its odor control and tank maintenance procedures.

By 2022, complaints of diesel and chemical fumes had increased. State and city inspectors again observed off-site odor impacts and issued additional citations. Records from the Detroit Violations Database list environmental code violations for odor and storage deficiencies in 2021 and 2023. Aevitas remained under active EGLE oversight through 2025.

On June 30, 2025, a massive fire erupted in the main tank area, sending black smoke visible across the city and triggering local evacuations. Fire reports and state documents indicate that stored waste fuels and solvents fed the blaze. No fatalities were reported, but first responders and nearby residents reported strong chemical odors for days after. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy ( EGLE statement ) ordered an immediate shutdown and site assessment.

Following the fire, EGLE and the Detroit City Council’s Legislative Policy Division (LPD) opened an environmental review that analyzed air-monitoring and complaint data before and after the incident. That report, published in October 2025, confirmed long-term odor complaints prior to the fire and documented a sharp decline in complaint frequency after Aevitas’s closure. LPD Report (2025).

EGLE continues to oversee cleanup and remediation under hazardous-waste closure requirements. The facility remains non-operational pending debris removal and tank disposal approvals under RCRA closure protocols.

Community Impact

The Aevitas site lies within Detroit’s east-side industrial belt, a corridor where industrial facilities and homes coexist in close proximity. Prior to the fire, residents in the surrounding area regularly reported diesel and chemical-type odors to EGLE and the City of Detroit. These complaints formed part of the data reviewed in the City Council’s 2025 resolution and environmental policy discussion. Since the fire and shutdown, complaint frequency in the one-mile radius has dropped significantly, a trend reflected in EGLE’s post-incident records and LPD analysis.

The area surrounding 663 Lycaste is classified by EPA EJScreen as above the 90th percentile for air-toxics and particulate exposure risk factors. Under Michigan Rule 901(b) and Detroit Environmental Code § 22-2-83, facilities that release odors or emissions beyond their property lines are subject to enforcement actions. These policies provide the legal basis for the citations and orders issued to Aevitas prior to its closure and demonstrate how environmental rules apply in urban industrial corridors.

This summary reflects verified records only and does not make any claims about health outcomes or individual experiences.

Status & Sources

Status (October 2025): The Aevitas Specialty Services Corp. facility remains closed following the June 30 2025 fire. EGLE continues oversight of site cleanup and hazardous-waste closure activities under RCRA and Michigan Part 111. No restart has been approved as of this date.

Primary Verification Links:

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