Air pollution warning after Wollaston fire

Residents warned to close doors and windoows due to smoke from Northamptonshire recycling depot fire Residents were warned to keep doors and windows closed yesterday (January 18) after a fire involving waste plastics broke out at a recycling depot in Wollaston, Northamptonshire.

Around 60 firefighters were called to the blaze at Think Green Recycling Ltd, located on the Moulton Park Industrial Estate, at approximately 12.40pm yesterday.

The fire at Wollaston on Sunday (photo: Katie Ridout)

Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service issued advice for people living near the scene to stay indoors, after a large plume of black smoke could be seen emitting from the site.

One resident who lives in a village some three miles from the industrial estate said that at the height of the fire she could “smell and taste the burning”.

The fire involved around 80 tonnes of plastic material as well as rags and was contained within the rear yard of the building. There were reported to be no injuries or damage to the building itself.

The Fire Service used 10 pumping appliances to bring the blaze under control, as well as receiving assistance from crews normally located in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

The blaze was brought under control by 4.30pm yesterday, with only ‘small amount of residual smoke’ being emitted from the site as of 6.30am today. Residents have since been informed that they can ‘carry on as normal’.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue said: “There are fire investigators on the scene at the moment and we have one fire appliance visiting periodically to dampen down the site.

“We are assisting Think Green Recycling with getting back to normal as soon as they can.”

The Environment Agency and forensic investigators from the Northamptonshire Police Service are also at the site today, working with the operator of the site to establish how the fire was started.

Established in 2012, Think Green Recycling Ltd carries out treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in Northampton and the surrounding area.

The company informed that it would not comment on the incident until the investigation had been completed.