Councillors raise concerns about scrap metal operations

The AIM Recycling operation at 997 Carpin Beach Rd. is on the agenda for Monday night's City Council meeting.

Couns. Corey Gardi and Matthew Scott, both representing Ward 5, have been hearing complaints about noise, traffic, emissions and other issues there.

They're concerned that, as Algoma Steel switches to electric arc steelmaking, more metal recyclers and processors may want to set up shop in the Sault.

Gardi and Scott want the city to look at business licensing bylaws to control both the AIM yard and any other scrap dealers wanting to do business in the Sault.

Founded in Montreal in 1936, American Iron and Metal (AIM) has established a global presence in the recovery and recycling of scrap metal by-products.

It now has 70 sites worldwide, including five processing facilities with shredders, and four locations offering direct access to deep-water ports.

The following is the full text of the Gardi/Scott resolution prepared for Monday's council meeting:

AIM Recycling

Mover: Councillor C. Gardi
Seconder: Councillor M. Scott

Whereas residents in the area of AIM Recycling on Carpin Beach Road have registered numerous complaints with AIM Recycling, city councillors and staff as well as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) concerning issues with the operations at the site, including but not exclusive to noise, emissions, site plan control and traffic; and

Whereas the ministry and AIM Recycling are working on an environmental approval process that should address some of the issues but take a lengthy time to be completed; and

Whereas a number of Ontario municipalities control some aspects of salvage yard operations through business licensing bylaws; and

Whereas the move by Algoma Steel Inc. to electric arc steelmaking will result in an increased need for scrap metal as an input and may result in increased salvage/metal processing operations in Sault Ste. Marie;

Now therefore be it resolved that staff review whether a business licensing approach can be used to address some of the concerns noted by residents in the area of AIM Recycling and, by extension, the community at large concerning existing or future salvage/metal processing operations.

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.