Police said an explosion heard across Hamilton on Friday was a propane cylinder explosion at Triple M Metal. East Hamilton residents have raised concerns about noise and vibration from the recycler for years, including at this protest near Triple M Metal’s Brampton Street site in 2019.
Police said an explosion heard across Hamilton on Friday was a propane cylinder explosion at Triple M Metal. East Hamilton residents have raised concerns about noise and vibration from the recycler for years, including at this protest near Triple M Metal’s Brampton Street site in 2019.
Police said workers at Triple M Metal Corp. had “accidentally destroyed” a propane tank, causing it to explode and damage some equipment in the incident.
Four of the charges were related to explosions in an auto shredder on Parkdale Avenue North, while the fifth conviction was related to the operation of new metal shearing equipment at the company’s Brampton Street site without required environmental approvals.
Twitter user @KimK36252095 shared a video that records the explosion.
@KimK36252095
In late February, the east-end metal recycling company was fined $225,000 plus a victim surcharge of $56,250 and given two years to pay. No one was injured in the latest incident, according to police.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The latest explosion also comes shortly after a public commenting period on an application by the recycler to the province asking to operate its Parkdale metal shredder 24 hours a day, seven days a week — rather than the current 12 hours a day on weekdays.
That proposal worried neighbours as well as ward councillor Tammy Hwang, who submitted a letter opposing the extension of shredder operations through the night.
It’s unclear where the latest explosion occurred. The company also has a third site on Strathearne Avenue.
Triple M spokesperson Nicole Ferrari previously told The Spectator that unwanted propane tanks ending up in shredders is a “common challenge” in the recycling industry.
“Resolving this issue is a focus for us and we continue to strive to eliminate these events,” said Ferrari, in an email statement in late March.
The Spectator reached out to the company as well as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for more details on the incident but did not receive a response from either before deadline.
Hamilton Police have fielded numerous calls about a loud explosion in #HamOnt earlier this evening.
Triple M Metal accidentally destroyed a propane cylinder that detonated, causing damage to equipment.
Residents from across Hamilton and as far away as Aldershot reported hearing the explosion, with many posting about it on social media.
One user on X, who posted a video taken from their home, called the explosion a “mysterious boom,” prior to police confirming the source of the incident.
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