Date: September 18, 2018
Location: Henndorf, Salzburg (Austria)
Address: Hof 61, 5302
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Waste Management (Recycling)
Equipment: Wood Chipper
Company: Reststofftechnik GmbH
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: 500,000 euros
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Reststofftechnik was founded in July 1991 in Henndorf, Austria, and opened its first recycling plant the following October. The company made the news when it used polystyrene waste to produce the building material ISOPHON, which is a levelling compound, thermal insulation and impact sound insulation in one. By December Reststofftechnik had received contracts for the collection of waste paper in two municipalities, the building and operation of three recycling yards, and some commercial waste collection orders.
In 2011, the company PVC recycling plant was expanded to include a hall with a more powerful pre-shredding system for old windows. At the same time, a PVC chip processing plant was set up in order to be able to recycle the chips produced, which had previously been used for residual waste.
Incident Description:
On September 19, 2018, the Salzburger Nachrichten reported a fire at a waste management facility in Henndorf, Austria. Passers-by noticed the smoke and flames at around 8:39 p.m. and called the fire department. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 10:00 p.m. but they remained on site until 2:00 a.m. to monitor for further outbreaks.
Later that day, employees informed the fire department that smoke had reappeared. Fire crews stopped the smouldering and concluded that metal parts in the wood being recycled may have generated sparks while going through the wood chipper, triggering the original fire.
Although around 40 employees were present when the fire broke out, there were no injuries and the property damage is estimated at 500,000 euros.
Sources:
Salzburger Nachrichten
