The fire service were called to the plant on Friday evening to tackle “a large fire” which is believed to have started on a conveyor belt that runs between two buildings at the site.
According to Chris Lewis, spokesman for the Isle of Wight council, eight fire appliances were sent to the facility – seven of them being special units.
A road running alongside the facility was closed due to the fire, there were no injuries but the plant was badly damaged.
The plant produces “floc” a waste derived fuel, which was previously sent to an incinerator on the island. It is believed that the plant's product in recent months has been sent to a cement kiln in Lincolnshire.
A spokesman for Biffa Waste Services told letsrecycle.com: “The fire started in a neighbouring waste to energy facility and spread to Biffa's site where it damaged conveyor belts.
“We are now assessing the situation and are working to replace damaged equipment in order to have the plant operating again as soon as possible. In the meantime, waste has been diverted to a nearby landfill site,” he added.
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