Three Small Gas Cylinders Explode in Waste Baler at Recycling Plant : VIDEO: Propane Cylinder Explosion at Recycling Centre in Kent County, Michigan

Kent County Recycling & Education Center Grand Rapids explosion recycling

The moment a propane gas cylinder exploded in a baler at a recycling facility at the Kent County Recycling & Education Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan has been caught on the CCTV.

The cause of the explosion was three small one-pound propane cylinders. One Kent County staff person was taken for medical observation. Grand Rapids Fire Department was dispatched.

Kent County said that although they're considered 'disposable', small camping-style propane cylinders are not recyclable.

With camping here, Country officials said that it is critically important that these metal tanks be disposed of properly and offered a list of locations to safely take them.

According to a report by MLive, Kent County Department of Public Works Director Darwin Baas an employee "caught some of the concussion" but did not suffer any serious injuries and was released from hospital that day.

"We're fortunate that there were no serious injuries or no serious damage at this time," he was reported to have said.

The report added that Baas had said propane tanks have been an issue for the facility in the past. "It's almost like it's not if, it's when... These small ones, they get covered by newspaper or a corrugated box… There's just no way to see them going through the line."

"As much as people want to recycle as much as they can, these are things we can't and don't want at the recycling center," he was reported to have said.

The video can be viewed below.

https://youtu.be/JR8gVk6RATc

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