North America – A major fire ‘gutted’ one of Ontario’s largest recycling operations on October 6. Over US$ 30 million was invested in Waste Management’s Cambridge plant that opened in 2012, with chief fire prevention officer Brent Smith saying that the damage will set the company back at least US$ 15 million and that this represents ‘the most expensive fire in the city’s history’.
The incident is described as ‘not suspicious’ by Cambridge Fire Department platoon chief Martin Mills. The fire was initially spotted during the late afternoon in a cardboard packing area – specifically ‘in and around a piece of sorting equipment’ that was apparently blocked.
Around 80 people work at the Cambridge plant but all 25 employees onsite at the time escaped the blaze without any injury. No firefighters were injured even though the squad was engulfed by thick smoke and the facility’s roof collapsed later that evening.
Waste Management has the annual capacity to process 550 000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste material from Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Michigan and New York.
Don't hesitate to contact us to share your input and ideas. Subscribe to the magazine or (free) newsletter.
Loading ...
