A Hamilton scrap metal company has been fined $85,000 for violating Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act, the second time the company has been fined by the province in 12 months.

A Friday news release from the Department of Environment, Conservation and Parks said American Iron & Metal Company, known by its acronym AIM, was fined June 20.

The latest convictions involve – in three separate cases – failure to comply with department orders by failing to ensure that no prohibited materials were processed in the shredder until all gases, liquids or other substances that could cause an explosion had been removed.

The ministry said the crimes occurred between October 22, 2020, and January 7, 2021, and during that period, “several explosions occurred at the site.”

“AIM reported that the shredder was processing crushed car bodies at the time of the explosions, and that the explosions were likely caused by residual gas in gas tanks and/or hidden pressure vessels,” the press release said.

The ministry said it received 34 separate noise and vibration complaints from local residents after the explosions, adding that its Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Division conducted investigations and filed charges that resulted in convictions.

In 2020, Environment Hamilton and the residents of Parkview West. raised concerns about the smog coming from the AIM landfill.

Dave Kebick, who has lived in Parkview West most of his life, said this is not the first time the community has had problems with AIM, noting the “unbearable noise” in 2019. AIM then added a shredder to its facility.

“That’s when we started seeing air pollution,” Kebik said.

He said the visible smog combined with dust and noise complaints was frustrating.

“The concern is that we raised this issue with the Ministry of Environment … it feels like we are being pushed aside,” Kebik explained at the time.

“We are all very concerned… one family has left.”

Since the explosions, “AIM has enhanced its inspection program and associated procedures to deter suppliers from including prohibited materials in their shipments,” the ministry said in a statement. “The company has a detailed program to minimize the likelihood of prohibited materials entering the shredder.”

AIM fined after load fell on worker

In May 2023 AIM was fined $65,000. Ministry of Labor after part of a load of scrap metal fell on one of its employees while they were trying to unload it from a trailer in 2021.

At the time, the company pleaded guilty to violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act by “failing to provide an employee with information, instructions and supervision on the safe procedure for unloading a 40-foot dump truck,” the department said.

It said the driver was not instructed on the company’s correct procedure for unloading the trailer, which was for the driver to stand behind the trailer door and use it as a shield against debris that might fall when it was open.

“After opening one of the rear doors, the driver partially opened the other rear door. The driver then walked to the inside of the door to open it all the way,” the department said, noting that the driver had been working there since then. 2020, but was in a new role and still undergoing training.

In addition to the fines, in both cases the company was ordered to pay a 25 percent surcharge to fund services for crime victims.

CBC Hamilton reached out to AIM for comment but had not received a response by the time this article was published.