Investigation under way as Veolia reveals likely cause of Shrewsbury recycling centre fire

An investigation is under way at a Shrewsbury recycling centre after a fire.

Six Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service crews attended Veolia’s Battlefield site yesterday (Wednesday, October 14)

A spokesman for the firm said investigations are taking place to identify the cause of the fire, but that “initial evidence” pointed towards a lithium battery which had been put in the wrong bin.

In the wake of the incident Veolia has issued a reminder asking people to make sure they dispose of items correctly.

The spokesman said: “Veolia can confirm that on Wednesday, October 14, a small fire broke out at the Shrewsbury Advanced Recycling Centre.

"Our team followed our established safety procedures and emergency services attended and extinguished the fire. Thanks to the quick actions of those involved, there were no injuries to our staff.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, initial evidence indicates that the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery incorrectly placed in a bin.

“These items should always be disposed of separately at dedicated recycling points, such as at Household Recycling Centres or large supermarkets.

“Disposing of these items correctly greatly reduces the risk of fires, protecting both our colleagues and the infrastructure behind essential waste services.”