Hamilton residents near AIM Recycling can 'taste' smog from scrapyard

Environment Hamilton and residents in the Parkview West neighbourhood are raising concerns about smog coming from a scrapyard they say is so severe people can "taste it."

Lynda Lukasik with Environment Hamilton sharedimages and video to Facebook of the haze fromAmerican Iron and Metal (AIM) Recycling.

Shetold CBC News she experienced it first hand while cycling in the east-end corner of the city near industrial sites byNikola Tesla Boulevardon Mondaymorning.

"I worry about air quality ... I cycled past on the public road way. I could smell it. On Friday, I could taste it," she recalled.

"Imagine what it's like for workers on the site. I worry for them the most because they're on the frontline. But I'm also concerned when emissions are migrating off site."

Dave Kebick, who has lived in Parkview West most of his life, said it isn't the first time the community has had issues with AIM, noting "unbearable noise" last year. Then AIM added a shredder to its facility.

"That's when we started seeing this air pollution," Kebick said.

He said the visible smog, combined with dust and noise complaints, are upsetting.

"The concern is we raised this up to the Ministry of the Environment ... it almost feels like we're being shuffled to the side," Kebickexplained.

"We're all very concerned ... wehad one family move out."

Lukasik adds she has issued 11 to 12 complaints about it.

The provincetold CBC News it is taking the complaint seriously.

"On July 17, 2020, the ministry received a complaint and video regarding the dark cloud over the American Iron and Metal's shredder," read an email fromLindsay Davidson, a spokesperson from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

"The ministry contacted the company requiring additional information on the incident.This information is to be provided to the ministry by July 21, 2020."

AIM Recycling did not immediately respond for comment.

"We want them to get this figured out. If we want them to be in this community ... we're all saying 'Great, but do it in a way where you're not inflicting these kind of impacts on the community and the environment.' We're not going to accept that," Lukasik said.