FENIX RECYCLING SITE ENGULFED AGAIN AMID GROWING BATTERY WASTE FEARS

Ten fire appliances and over 40 firefighters were deployed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) on the 8th April to battle a ferocious blaze that generated explosions, sent debris into nearby gardens, and forced the evacuation of nearby homes. There were reports that residents were struck by flying batteries and advised to shelter indoors as thick plumes of smoke blanketed the area. Police cordons were swiftly erected, and public health alerts were issued as emergency services worked for days to contain the fire.

The blaze left what remained of the already fire-damaged building “well alight again,” according to local councillors, who expressed disappointment and concern over the site’s continued risk. Fenix had lost its operating licence in May 2024 after the previous fire and entered voluntary liquidation four months later. The ownership and responsibility for the site following this closure remain unclear, raising questions over post-licensing site management and regulatory oversight.

This second incident at the same location highlights a disturbing trend: lithium-ion batteries are increasingly linked to catastrophic fires in recycling and waste management facilities. According to a report from the Environmental Services Association, lithium-ion batteries now account for nearly half of all waste fires in the UK (around 200 incidents annually) and cost an estimated £158 million in damages and response efforts.

The Fenix fire is the latest in a series of major blazes in the waste and recycling sector this year. Two weeks earlier, a blaze at Moock Environmental Solutions in Cumbernauld destroyed a 2,000m² facility and left six people injured. In early January, a significant fire tore through part of a 7,500m² recycling plant in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.  Meanwhile, the Aberdeen MRF facility which was lost to fire in 2022, is only now preparing to reopen after its own complex recovery. That incident saw a fire reignite after it was thought to have been brought under control.

These cases are not isolated. Across the UK, the waste sector continues to record an average of three to four fires every week. The introduction of lithium-ion batteries into our main waste streams has only heightened the challenge, further punctuating these fires as protracted, multi-agency incidents but now involving potential explosive reactions, toxic smoke, and more hazardous firewater runoff.

The Fenix fire again reinforces the need for stringent regulation, clear post-closure accountability, and for building structures the investment in fire prevention measures such as automatic sprinkler systems which are proven to dramatically reduce fire damage and assist firefighters upon arrival. 

While sprinkler systems cannot extinguish a battery in thermal runaway, they can play a vital role in containing the spread of fire. It’s important to note that sprinklers can respond earlier than fire service intervention, cooling the area and limiting fire spread until further measures can be taken.

Facilities such as the Biffa waste site in Irlam have shown how when sprinklers are installed at a site, their activation can stop a fire in its tracks, safeguarding both infrastructure and public safety. As climate risks and technological waste streams continue to evolve, so too must fire resilience in the waste sector. 

Image Credit: Google Earth Sept 2024