Emergency services were called to the facility on Griffon Road at around 11am after nearby residents reported thick black smoke rising from the site.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) attended the scene with six fire engines, supported by an aerial ladder platform and a water carrier.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the fire service said: “We are currently dealing with a fire at a recycling yard on Griffon Road in Ilkeston.
“Please avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident. Due to smoke from the fire, please keep windows and doors closed in the area.”
Fire contained to vehicle depollution area
Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward, confirmed that the incident began in the site’s vehicle depollution area, where scrap vehicles are processed and recycled.
Ward commented: “We are saddened to confirm that a fire started at our metal recycling and waste management facility on Griffon Road in Ilkeston on the morning of Thursday 6th November 2025.
“It began in the vehicle depollution area where scrap vehicles are processed and recycled and was quickly contained.
“Everyone on site is safe and well and the situation is under control.
“Donald Ward Ltd, trading as Ward, is committed to the highest standards of quality and safety. The safety of our colleagues and the local community is paramount.”
Ward added that a full investigation is underway with the relevant authorities.
The Ilkeston facility was the scene of another large fire earlier this year, in April, which was believed to have been caused by a discarded battery left in recycling waste.
Spate of recycling facility fires
This latest incident comes amid a spate of fires at recycling and waste management facilities across the UK and Ireland in recent weeks.
On Tuesday (4 November 2025), a significant fire broke out at a metal and waste electrics recycling facility in Belfast, where more than 50 firefighters were deployed.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said eight pumping appliances, an aerial appliance, a water tanker and a command support unit were in attendance at the Ballygomartin Road site.
The fire involved a large quantity of scrap metal, and local residents were asked to avoid the area as crews tackled what was described as a “significant incident.”
In October, multiple fires hit recycling centres, including two large-scale blazes in Lincolnshire and Surrey, both of which required major responses from local fire services.
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