Blast at Copper Recycler Claims One

An explosion at a brass ingot making company in Cleveland caused one fatality and three injuries early Tuesday morning.

A 53-year-old employee of River Recycling Industries Inc. was killed after an explosion at the copper scrap-consuming maker of brass ingots.

According to James Grodin, vice president of the company, three other employees were also injured by the blast, with none of the other injuries listed as serious. Damage caused by the blast has idled the company’s melting capacity, says Grodin.

The company is still honoring its contracts for inbound scrap and outgoing ingots, he says, noting that River Recycling has contingency plans and is “fully insured.”

Grodin is uncertain how long it will take for the melting capacity to be restored. “Right now, our primary concern is for our employees,” says Grodin, who noted that the person killed had been an employee at River Recycling for 26 years.