Explosions at Saint John scrap metal business concern neighbours

Residents on Saint John's west side are growing more concerned over a scrap metal business after explosions have been heard coming from its operation at the city's port.

Noise complaints have been common since American Iron and Metal expanded its operations in 2012. The Montreal-based company's scrap metal shredder, combined with a permit to load ships 24 hours a day, has irritated many. But what is concerning neighbours most are the occasional reverberations of explosions at the facility.

"It is loud and frightening," said Stephen Hughes who has lived on the lower west side since 2008. Around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Hughes said his home shook after an explosion at the AIM shredder.

"We felt the whole house shake and dishes rattling, people jumping out of the shower saying 'oh my gosh, what just happened?'" Hughes said. After experiencing this before, Hughes said they looked at the shredder facility and saw smoke billowing out of it.  

"Our neighbourhood is no longer safe"

Hughes is uncomfortable with AIM's location and is concerned it is lowering his property's value. He said the explosions have changed his opinion of the area.

"This heightened our feeling that our neighbourhood is no longer safe," he said.

AIM's vice president of legal affairs, Kamila Wirpszo said the explosion was small and beyond the company's control.

"Apparently the explosion was possibly due to a gas tank hidden in a trunk of a car that went through the shredder," Wirpszo said. "This kind of thing may happen from time to time as part of the shredder operation, despite the procedures that we have in place to avoid that."

Wirpszo added that the explosion prompted an investigation from the province's environment department.

"They were actually quite satisfied with the procedures that we have in place," she said.

Explosions beyond company's control

AIM is leasing its property from the Saint John Port Authority, which is is well aware of the explosions. "There is no doubt that there has been some larger explosions," said Port Saint John CEO Jim Quinn.

But Quinn said the explosions are beyond AIM's control.

The scrap the company receives is supposed to arrive free of hazardous materials, Quinn said.

"AIM buys materials from scrapyards and that scrap's supposed to meet a standard," Quinn said, adding it is difficult for the company to inspect a crushed car before it goes into the shredder.

When there is an explosion, Quinn said the company should be reporting the infraction to the right authorities, which he said he is confident the company is doing. Still, he said it was important to follow up.

"We talk with the company to see are there things that they can do to mitigate that," Quinn said.

The port's response does not satisfy Stephen Hughes, who says he wants to feel safe in his own home without worrying about building-shaking explosions.

"Ultimately I just want a little bit of my quality of life back" he said.