Fire rages at Toxco in Trail

Toxco fire: photo by Randy Lebedow

Photograph by Randy Lebedow

Late yesterday afternoon a massive fire broke out at the Toxco Waste Management facility in Waneta. Five different fire companies were dispatched to fight the blaze, which raged through the night.

Early reports indicate that sulphur dioxide gas was emitted during the fire, but Operations Manager Kathy Bruce has stated that the gas poses no danger to the public as it has dispersed into the air.

Environment Canada is on the scene.

According to the company's web site, the company, which recycles batteries, has a mandate to provide safe recycling. "The facility inventories incoming lithium battery waste. The waste is then stored in earth covered concrete storage bunkers. Residual electrical energy is removed from larger, more reactive batteries. If necessary the batteries then begin Toxco’s patented cryogenic process and are cooled to -325°F. Lithium, although normally explosively reactive at room temperature, is rendered relatively inert at this temperature. The batteries are then safely sheared/shredded and the materials are separated."