AIM Responds To Concerns About Explosions

American Iron & Metal (AIM) is responding to concerns about recent explosions at its west Saint John recycling facility.

It comes as Mayor Don Darling put forward a motion before council calling for more regulations for the company.

Michael Cormier, AIM Recycling’s general manager for Atlantic and Maine, said the facility complies with all the conditions of their approval to operate.

“AIM Recycling Atlantic is not only complying with all the conditions of its approval to operate but is also proactively working to minimize any negative impacts its operations may have on the community through education,” said Cormier in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday evening.

Cormier said AIM has invested “considerable” effort in recent months to reduce explosions, such as hiring more people to inspect incoming loads for unauthorized materials.

The company, he said, also imposes financial penalties when hazardous materials are found in a clients’ load.

“This is a work in progress, but the results are visible in the improvement of explosion statistics at our site,” wrote Cormier.

Cormier said the AIM facility has had 28 explosions this year, down from a total of 53 in 2018.

He said only five explosions this year have been “recordable,” meaning they exceeded the 104-decibel limit set out in the company’s approval to operate.

“We recognize that this number must continue to decline, and we are working with all stakeholders to continue to do so,” said Cormier.

According to the Department of Environment, the company was forced to cease operations temporarily on Monday after an explosion “exceeded their approval limits.”

The department has not provided an update on when the recycling facility will be given approval to resume operations.

Cormier said they are committed to working with the community and city officials, noting they have been holding Community Liaison Committee meetings since May of 2019.

“In the past year, we received only 3 complaints on our hotline, all of which were processed and resolved,” he said.

Cormier went on to highlight the positive impact the operations have on the community by creating jobs, supporting the local economy, and helping the environment by recycling items which would otherwise end up in the landfill.

AIM Recycling Atlantic strives daily to be an integral part of the community and wants the opportunity to continue to do so,” he said. “We are therefore asking Mayor Darling to show the same openness by taking the time to continue the discussion with us at our next CLC meeting, to be held on January 14, 2021.”