Recycling blaze prompts battery disposal warning

Firefighters said the likely cause of the fire was buried under tonnes of material

People are being urged to dispose of batteries carefully after a discarded item is believed to have caused a major fire at a Derbyshire recycling plant.

Eight crews were called to tackle the emergency on Crompton Road, Ilkeston, after the alarm was raised on Tuesday evening.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the exact type of battery involved was unknown due to it being "buried" in tonnes of waste.

The public have been urged to recycle batteries and rechargeable devices either at designated centres or enquire about council collection.

The fire broke out in Ilkeston on Tuesday evening

No injuries or major damage was reported, but crews were on site overnight to deal with burning piles of recyclable material.

A fire service statement said: "An investigation into the cause of a fire determined the most likely cause to be a discarded battery left in the recycling waste.

"However, due to the extensive damage caused by the fire and the battery being buried in [tonnes] of waste, the type and condition of the battery couldn't be determined."

The fire service said proper disposal of battery, especially the lithium-ion type which powers many rechargeable devices, avoids damage or puncture by heavy machinery during transport or processing which may lead to fires.

Signs of battery damage could include swelling or bulging, leaking, overheating, strong odours, colour change, or unusual sounds like popping or hissing.

The smoke prompted a warning to residents to close doors and windows

Derbyshire County Council underlined the importance of recycling batteries correctly, as valuable chemicals and metals in them can be retrieved and reused.

It warned batteries should never be put in general rubbish and can be recycled at household waste recycling centres, or retail sites like pharmacies and supermarkets.

"Batteries are accepted at all our household waste recycling centres so we would encourage residents to dispose of them safely there," a spokesman said.

"Please don't throw batteries away in general household waste due to the risk involved in the sorting process.

"Retailers who sell batteries also provide battery recycling bins so people can drop their used batteries off there too where they will also be disposed of safely."

Large cranes were used to move smouldering recycling material