Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service say the “large” fire at Pure Recycling’s materials recycling facility (MRF) in Ettington, Warwickshire, is now “under control”.
Firefighters battled the fire in “extreme heat” having first been called to the site at just before 4pm yesterday afternoon (19 July).
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Neighbouring buildings were protected, but crews also had to tackle a field fire which had spread from the initial blaze.
Ten pumps including a water carrier and an aerial appliance attended the scene at the fire’s height. Neighbouring residents were advised to shut all doors and windows due to thick smoke coming from the site.
Firefighters remined at the site overnight to damp down the scene.
In a statement published this morning, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two appliances remain onsite at the incident in Ettington this morning damping down to ensure that any small pockets of fire are fully extinguished.
“A structural engineer is in attendance to check the safety of the building. We will remain onsite until the fire is completely out.”
No injuries
With the fire still smouldering, the MRF remains closed, according to a spokesperson for Pure Recycling. It is not yet known when it might reopen. The cause of the fire is also currently unknown.
“We would like to send our thanks to the emergency services for their continued assistance at this time”
The spokesperson told letsrecycle.com: “The Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the Pure Recycling Plant in Ettington, after a fire broke out yesterday afternoon.
“We are pleased to report that there were no injuries sustained and we would like to send our thanks to the emergency services for their continued assistance at this time.
“We are working with our clients to minimise the impact on services and a full investigation will be carried out in due course.”
Pure Recycling
Pure Recycling’s 60,000 square foot MRF processes waste on behalf of Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon district councils, among other local authorities. With arisings up and MRF capacity tight, it is possible the local authorities will now find it more expensive to have their ‘blue bag’ waste sorted elsewhere, one recycler told letsrecycle.com.
Construction and infrastructure services firm Kier acquired Warwickshire-based waste management firm Pure Recycling for a reported £7 million in 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).
The deal included the 150,000 tonnes-a-year capacity MRF, which opened in 2011 and was developed on the site of a former slaughterhouse.
Delivery of the plant, which received planning permission in 2007, was hampered by bad weather in the region, and its planned opening in 2009 was missed. Pure Recycling became embroiled in a legal wrangle with Warwickshire county council over planning permission in December 2009 after the MRF failed to open and the waste management company subsequently began operating from a temporary building, though the conflict was resolved a few months later (see letsrecycle.com story).
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
