At approximately 22:50 a fire broke out at the transfer station, which sits next to the company’s 160,000 tonne-per year capacity Material Recycling Facility. The MRF was not affected by the fire.
Brighton and Hove council, which sends waste to the site, has told residents that it is working on contingency plans for the dealing with recycling as the transfer station’s electrical and odour controls are currently out of action.
The East Sussex Fire and Rescue service confirmed that six fire engines were sent to the scene and three remained on the site throughout the night to dampen down.
Response
Residents living nearby were urged to keep their windows closed until 12:00 the following day, when the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported and fire crews inspected the site later on Monday, then drawing the incident to a close at 16:00.
Brighton and Hove City council issued a statement yesterday saying that collections will continue as normal but material will be instead sent to other sites in Hove and Newhaven, so collections may take longer to complete.
A spokesperson for Veolia said: “We can confirm at 22.50 a fire broke out at our Hollingdean Waste Transfer Station. The Fire Service were immediately called and the fire was brought under control.
“No one was injured and the Fire Service remain on site damping down waste materials. Veolia takes health and safety very seriously and a full investigation has been launched into this incident.”
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