The fire is believed to have broken out at Global Ardour Recycling’s site on Birch Street, just north of Bury town centre.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said it was called to reports of a fire at a metal recycling centre at around 12.30am.
Six fire engines from across Greater Manchester attended the incident, with crews working alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe.
In an update at 7.45am, GMFRS said: “At around 00:30am this morning (Tuesday 6 October), six fire engines from across Greater Manchester were called to reports of a fire at a metal recycling centre on Birch Street, Bury.
“Crews arrived quickly and worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe, using specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.
“Firefighters were in attendance for around 6 hours.”
Pictures from the scene showed large flames and plumes of smoke, with firefighters using an aerial platform to tackle the blaze.
GMFRS warned residents in the area to keep their windows and doors closed because of the amount of smoke, and advised people to avoid the area.
Fires in the waste and recycling sector
The incident comes amid continued concern over fires at waste and recycling facilities across the UK and Ireland, with operators and fire services reporting persistent incidents involving mixed waste and recyclable materials.
Metals facilities are particularly at risk with industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association (ESA) warning that battery-related fires – particularly those linked to improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries – are now occurring at what they describe as “epidemic levels”.
A fire also broke out at a metal recycling plant in Linlithgow, Scotland, on Sunday (4 October).
While the cause of the fire is currently still under investigation, it was likely caused by a battery which had ended up in the incorrect waste stream.
Batteries present a severe fire risk when they are crushed or otherwise improperly managed and should be disposed of via specialist battery bins, which can be found in supermarkets.
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