Overheated machinery triggers MRF blaze

A blaze has destroyed 10 tonnes of waste paper and cans at a Dorset-based materials recycling facility (MRF), the latest in a series of fires to hit the waste industry in recent weeks.

Dorset Fire & Rescue Service was alerted to the blaze at SITA UKs 2.5 million Wareham Eco Park facility by a member of staff at 10.30am on Friday. It is believed to have been caused by a sorting machine overheating.

As well as loss of stock, the accidental fire is also believed to have caused smoke damage to the building.

In total, 32 firefighters and six engines were called to the scene, and the fire had successfully been contained within two hours. The fire service maintained an on-site presence until 2pm.

The 20,000 tonne capacity plant, which began operating in December 2012, accepts and sorts cardboard, paper, plastics, cans, polythene and textiles from the surrounding area (see letsrecycle.com story).

Operations

Regional communications manager Mike Dobson said: We are pleased to report that nobody was hurt and we thank our staff for their quick reactions and members of the fire brigade for their prompt arrival. The fire has not caused any structural damage but replacement parts will be needed for some of the machinery.

Our staff all mucked in to clean the site up post-fire and limited operations, such as baling and manual sorting, recommenced on Friday afternoon. The majority of industrial and commercial recyclable materials due into the Eco Park over the next week or so will now be transferred on to our MRF in Avonmouth, before operations are able to recommence in full at Wareham.

The fire follows a warning from insurance firms last week that the recent spate of high-profile fires at recycling sites across the country this year have had a dramatic effect on cover, with premiums increasing for many firms across the sector (see letsrecycle.com story).

In response to the volume of incidents, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) will publish its Pollution Prevention Guidance in the coming weeks, which is likely to include recommendations on stockpile separation and minimum widths between stacks of recycled material.

Asked how waste companies could avoid future fires, a Dorset fire service spokesman said: Make sure your risk assessments are up to date, the procedures should all be in place. However, this one has come across as accidental so it is not a case of prevention it is a case of getting everyone out of the way and making sure everyone is safe.

Strike

Meanwhile, SITA UK has reached a verbal agreement with collection vehicle drivers at its depot in Crawley, after employees threatened to strike in a dispute over pay and working hours (see letsrecycle.com story).

Speaking on behalf of its 24 members at the facility last week, GMB said their working week had been reduced in June and were now facing further reductions. As a result, a consultative postal ballot was due to be held in the coming days.

But following a verbal agreement reached on Friday (October 11), the terms of which could not be disclosed, the ballot is no longer due to go ahead.

Acting head of communications at SITA UK Anthony Durston said: We verbally agreed a settlement and we are now gathering signed confirmations from members of staff. This process will take a few days to complete.