CLEVELAND — A Cleveland plastics recycler is getting on with business after a fire gutted part of its plant, destroying $250,000 worth of material and equipment. The March 4 blaze at Ponz Recycling Industries started when a spark from a welding torch ignited polystyrene coat hangers outside the building, said owner John Ponyicky.
The fire burned through wood cargo doors and spread to the inside of the 8,000-square-foot facility, igniting 400,000 pounds of processed post-industrial plastics.
The fire destroyed most of the equipment inside the building, including a grinder, two balers, a conveyor system and a film densifier.
The company continues to operate, even though the fire destroyed one-third of its capacity, Ponyicky said.
The 15-year-old company specializes in post-industrial film. It already has bought some new equipment and temporarily rented a building across the street to store material.
"I'm not slowing down," Ponyicky said. "I've been in this too many years and I have too many large accounts that depend on me. We're coming back bigger and better than ever."
Cleveland fire officials could not be reached for comment.