Thick black smoke was visible above Brunswick Road in Ashford, with Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) advising nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut.
By 10:10pm, the fire service confirmed the situation remained ongoing, with “a large amount of smoke” continuing to be emitted from the site.
Six engines remain on site, with crews wearing breathing apparatus still working to extinguish the fire.
The KFRS Volunteer Response Team was also in attendance overnight, providing welfare support to crews.
KFRS warned: “As crews continue to pull apart materials to extinguish the fire, smoke levels may increase throughout the morning.”
The service is also urging residents to share information with those who do not have access to the internet.
Fire at Green Box Recycling
The fire is believed to have begun at Green Box Recycling, a skip hire and recycling operator, on Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate.
The cause has not yet been determined.
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.
Last week, a fire hit Mid UK Recycling’s facility in Lincolnshire, prompting an emergency response. This was the second blaze at the site in the last six months.
Industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association have warned that battery-related fires – particularly those linked to improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries – are now occurring at what they describe as “epidemic levels”.
Green Box Recycling has been contacted for comment.
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