The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has written to constituent MPs calling on them to raise the issue in the House of Commons and support policy interventions to prevent similar incidents, after a lithium-ion battery ignited at one of its sites on Christmas Eve.
Fire at NWLA waste transfer station
The fire occurred at Hornsey Street Waste Transfer Station in Islington when an incorrectly disposed of battery exploded after being driven over by a loading vehicle.
The site was evacuated along with adjacent reuse and recycling centres while the London Fire Brigade tackled the blaze.
Due to the intensity of the fire, large volumes of water were required to bring the incident under control. This resulted in flooding across the site and necessitated an “extensive clean-up operation”.
Essential site equipment was also damaged during the incident, contributing to disruption of services over the festive period.
Hornsey Street Reuse and Recycling Centre reopened to the public on 27 December 2025, with the waste transfer station becoming operational the following day.
‘Real change can only happen with government support’
In his letter to MPs, NLWA Chair Councillor Clyde Loakes warned that fires linked to battery disposal are becoming increasingly common across the waste sector.
He said: “Fires at our facilities have more than doubled in the past few years, with the latest one causing significant damage to assets and infrastructure, as well as costly service disruption.
“It is very fortunate nobody was hurt.”
Loakes highlighted the particular risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in items such as mobile phones, vapes and other household electronics.
He added: “Old or damaged lithium-ion batteries can reach up to 800 degrees when they overheat and release toxic fumes.
“Disposing of them correctly will protect our staff, vehicles, facilities and the public, as well as ensuring valuable metals and plastics are recycled into something new.
“Real change can only happen with government support and policy intervention, such as placing enhanced responsibilities on producers.”
Rise of battery fires
The incident comes amid growing concern across the waste and recycling sector about the rising number of fires caused by incorrectly disposed batteries.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has warned of the surge in battery-related incidents, recently describing the situation as reaching “epidemic levels”.
NLWA has also previously joined forces with other London waste authorities and waste management organisations to write to the Minister for Nature, calling for “greater strategic direction to create the step change we need” in addressing battery-related fire risks.
Last year, the authority launched its Lead the Charge campaign, aimed at encouraging residents to safely dispose of lithium-ion batteries rather than placing them in household waste or recycling bins.
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