UPDATE: ‘Contained Explosion’ Reported At AIM Recycling

The Department of Environment confirms it is investigating an explosion at the AIM Recycling facility in west Saint John.

Vicky Lutes, a spokesperson for the department, said a “contained explosion” occurred in the shredder unit Tuesday morning.

Lutes said the impulse noise measures 106 decibels, exceeding the 104-decibel limit which requires a shut-down of operations.

“AIM followed the required process with immediate notification to the department and the Saint John Fire Department,” Lutes wrote in an email.

“Fire department officials conducted a visual inspection of the shredder unit and have indicated that they have no concerns.”

AIM Recycling confirmed the incident in a post on its Facebook page shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The company said a “contained burst” with “no combustion” occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. after the shredding of some material.

“AIM reassures you that the equipment is designed to withstand these bursts of pressure and that these contained bursts are neither a threat to the safety of the public nor to structures,” the company said in a Facebook post, adding that protocol has been followed to resume operations.

Lutes said part of the department’s review will be to ensure that the “appropriate inspection program” for material on-site was undertaken prior to being shredded.

Department staff launched an investigation in late 2020 after a pair of explosions exceeded the noise limit set out in their approval to operate.

Environment Minister Gary Crossman said the department identified that most of the explosions were from a stockpile of material at the site and “problematic 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,” Crossman said in a statement at the time.

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

According to the Department of Environment, there have been five “contained explosions” at AIM Recycling in 2021, with the most recent being on Feb. 20.