Unemptied aerosol cannister causes huge explosion in recycling plant sending workers running
- last year
A waste company has given a stark warning about the risks of unemptied aerosol canisters in recycling centres after one exploded and caused a mini fireball.
CCTV footage from the recycling sorting centre in Calne, Wilts., shows the moment the explosion happened.
A forklift truck is seen sorting big piles of recycling material and in the background close to another machine the explosion takes place.
Hills Waste Solutions - which run the facility - said: "Only completely empty aerosol cans should be put in the blue-lidded recycling bin so please check before disposing them.
"Partially full aerosol cans could cause explosions and potentially endanger recycling staff and property.
"To make sure an aerosol can is fully empty, simply depress the nozzle until no more air or propellant can be heard escaping."
The explosions are caused by the materials being compressed in the baling machine with other metals before they are transported.
Recycling manager Henry Newbery, at Hills Waste Solutions, added: “The CCTV footage shows a significant explosion from this incident, and fortunately no-one was injured and there was no damage caused to equipment or property.”
The footage was captured on December 23, 2022.
CCTV footage from the recycling sorting centre in Calne, Wilts., shows the moment the explosion happened.
A forklift truck is seen sorting big piles of recycling material and in the background close to another machine the explosion takes place.
Hills Waste Solutions - which run the facility - said: "Only completely empty aerosol cans should be put in the blue-lidded recycling bin so please check before disposing them.
"Partially full aerosol cans could cause explosions and potentially endanger recycling staff and property.
"To make sure an aerosol can is fully empty, simply depress the nozzle until no more air or propellant can be heard escaping."
The explosions are caused by the materials being compressed in the baling machine with other metals before they are transported.
Recycling manager Henry Newbery, at Hills Waste Solutions, added: “The CCTV footage shows a significant explosion from this incident, and fortunately no-one was injured and there was no damage caused to equipment or property.”
The footage was captured on December 23, 2022.