BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – ABC Recycling is offering its side of a dispute with the Port of Bellingham that led to the cancellation of its scrap metal shipping contract.

Port of Bellingham commissioners cited ABC’s violation of environmental regulations when they voted to cancel the contract at a special meeting on Monday. A statement quotes company vice president Andy Anthony as saying ABC and the Port reached a mutual agreement a week ago to void the contract.

The company says it stopped receiving bulk scrap metal at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal on March 6, and will have all remaining scrap removed by the end of June.

Anthony says the loss of its contract to ship scrap from Bellingham will not affect its effort to build a metal shredder just west of Bellingham. He says they’re now reassessing their bulk shipping strategy in light of the loss of access to the Bellingham terminal.

ABC’s operations at the Port and plans for the shredder have drawn some strong opposition from the community.