Clean-up begins at Shanks Frog Island MBT

The clean-up process is underway at Shanks Frog Island mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant after a large fire affecting 2,500 tonnes of household waste broke out inside the facility last week (August 4).

Satisfied that the site is now safe, fire crews left the scene in Rainham on Friday (August 8) after five days and handed responsibility for the plant back to Shanks.

The firm is now investigating the cause of the blaze, which broke out in the reception hall of MBT line 1, and is also working to remove all the affected waste.

The Environment Agency, which regulates the MBT facility and was on site advising fire crews and the London Ambulance Service last week, also said it was gathering information on the incident.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: Shanks are still investigating the cause of the fire. We are working closely with the operator to ensure the recovery is going as planned.

We continue to gather information about the incident, from our own sources and from partners; after which we will consider what further action may be necessary.

The Frog Island MBT facility processes household waste from the four borough councils Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham in the East London Waste Authority (ELWA) under a 25-year deal with Shanks.

East London

While the Frog Island facility is out of action, waste from the authorities is being sent to Shanks other MBT plant in Jenkins Lane, Newham. Both facilities have the capacity to process 180,000 tonnes of waste per year.

ELWA acting managing director Mark Ash told letsrecycle.com that the picture is still emerging about the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage to the facility, but that he did not believe there had been any serious structural damage.

He also said it was too early to say how long the plant will be out of action for or how long the current arrangement will be in place, but hoped that more would be known by next week.

Mr Ash previously told letsrecycle.com that there was enough capacity at the Jenkins Lane MBT plant for it to continue to cope with the extra household waste in the short term (see letsrecycle.com story).

Fire

At the height of the blaze, 12 fire engines and 81 firefighters and officers were at the scene on Creek Way. Fire crews from Wennington, Dagenham, Barking, East Ham, Stratford and Romford fire stations were initially sent to the MBT after receiving a call at 9.27am on Monday (August 4).

Firefighters spent several days last week regularly turning over the affected household waste material inside the facility in order to access and dampen down deep-seated pockets of fire.

No one was injured in the fire, but the nearby industrial estate was evacuated. The incident also caused traffic problems and East London flight paths to be diverted because of the black smoke plume, which could be seen for miles around.