Operations Resume At AIM Recycling

New Brunswick’s environment department has given the green light for AIM Recycling in Saint John to resume operations.

The west Saint John facility was ordered to shut down early last week after a pair of explosions exceeded the noise limit set out in their approval to operate.

At the time, Environment Minister Gary Crossman said the department would conduct a “more in-depth investigation” into the facility given the frequency of the explosions.

In a statement Thursday, Crossman said they identified the majority of explosions were from the stockpile of material and “problematic suppliers.”

The minister said AIM Recycling will be increasing inspections of all materials it receives from suppliers.

“They have trained additional inspectors and will remove gas tanks and combustible materials from cars, and crush as much of the materials as possible, prior to shredding,” said Crossman.

“With these measures in place, and because it is important that they can load material immediately as it arrives on site and not stockpile, we have given AIM permission to resume operations.”

In a Facebook post on Thursday, AIM Recycling said it resumed operations at 11 a.m. Wednesday after “multiple constructive discussions” with the environment department.

“We are taking the initiative to mitigate any potential risks of bursts by improving the existing preventive measures that were already in place,” said the statement.

AIM Recycling said it will be “collaborating closely” with suppliers to ensure the material entering their yard is clean.