The fire, which was reported at 23.50 on Sunday night, broke out at Envirowaste (Southern) Ltd in Yapton, Arundel, and destroyed three lorry loads of tyres – totalling around 2,000 – as well as 10 tonnes of cardboard and paper.
Fire crews attended the scene at the Burndell Road plant, which was described as a “small compound”, and were said to be still on site this morning after battling the blaze through the night before getting it under control just before seven o'clock this morning.
A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue told letsrecycle.com: “It is an open-air but secure compound and appears that somebody got in. Obviously, because of the tyres, there was a lot of smoke and all nearby houses have been told to shut their windows.”
She added: “It was arson.”
A full investigation into the fire will now take place, with firefighters on the scene beginning preliminary assessments of the incidents.
Envirowaste was established in 2006 to offer a commercial waste recycling service for businesses in the south of England. The company handles all types of paper, cardboard and plastics such as polythene. One main facets of the business is tyre recycling, with the company operating a shredder on site to produce rubber crumb.
Envirowaste declined to comment.
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