Soil sampling and testing continues at several community gardens in the Saint John area.
The testing was ordered after an industrial fire at American Iron and Metal (AIM Recycling) on the port’s west side in September.
Sampling is concentrated in areas of the city that were most affected by the smoke plume.
The results of the testing should be available in mid-November, the province announced Friday.
Anyone choosing to harvest garden crops should wash and freeze them until then or throw them into the garbage.
People choosing to compost garden crops or soil should consider keeping them separate from existing compost until test results are available.
Meanwhile, a vessel that was due at the AIM facility arrived in at Port Saint John last weekend. A shipment of recycled material being exported overseas was loaded, and the vessel left port early Wednesday morning.
The port is working on a structural assessment of the AIM terminal. The pier structure has been approved for use but the terminal area is still being examined and assessed.
AIM’s approval to operate remains suspended as the provincial task force continues its investigation.
