Emergency services were called to the recycling centre at Friarton Bridge Park shortly before 4pm on Saturday (18 July 2026), with witnesses reporting seeing thick black smoke rising from the industrial area.
In a statement, Enva confirmed the fire occurred in an external waste containment bunker at its Perth e-waste recycling facility.
The company said: “Our emergency response procedures were activated immediately, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is in attendance.
“The fire is contained within the waste containment bunker and has not spread to any other part of the facility.
“There have been no injuries. The safety of our employees, emergency responders and the local community remain our absolute priority.
“We are working closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and are very grateful for their prompt response to this incident.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) deployed four fire appliances, a water carrier and a height vehicle to the scene.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “We are currently in attendance at a fire at a recycling centre at Friarton Bridge Park, Friarton Road, Perth.
“Four fire appliances, a water carrier and a height vehicle are in attendance.
“The incident is ongoing and due to heavy smoke in the area, residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution.”
The last fire appliance left the site at around 10am on Sunday morning.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established and there have been no reports of any injuries.
A fire hit the same facility in January 2025, which similarly broke out in a exterior storage bay, and was most likely caused by a battery.
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.
Enva’s Belfast waste site also suffered from a fire in May this year.
These very issues will be at the heart of discussion at the Fire and Health & Safety Conference, taking place on 22 October 2026 – find out more here.
Incidents like this are another reminder of the growing challenge batteries pose across the recycling sector. While the cause of this fire has yet to be confirmed, the frequency of fires linked to incorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries continues to highlight the need for better public awareness, improved collection infrastructure, and stronger producer responsibility.
It’s encouraging that there were no injuries and that the fire was contained, thanks to the swift response of the emergency services and the site’s emergency procedures.
Battery fires are not just an operational issue—they’re a safety issue for workers, emergency responders, and local communities, and one the industry must continue to tackle collectively.