The Hidden Fire Risks in Recycling: How EMFS Protects Facilities and Safeguards Operations
- EMFS Group
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
Why Fire Safety Matters in Recycling
Recycle Week 2025 is a time to celebrate the incredible role the recycling industry plays in protecting our planet and conserving resources. But behind the progress and sustainability goals, recycling and waste management sites face one of their greatest threats: fire.
From lithium batteries hidden in everyday waste to large, complex stockpiles of materials, recycling sites are uniquely vulnerable. Fires here don’t just last hours, they can burn for days. This leaves local fire services stretched thin, with multiple engines tied up at a single recycling site while other emergencies, like road traffic collisions or house fires, wait for resources.
This Recycle Week, EMFS is shining a light on the risks recycling organisations face, the heavy consequences of fire incidents, and the proactive steps facilities can take to stay safe, compliant, and resilient.
The True Cost of Recycling Fires
Recycling fires are not just dangerous; they are financially devastating. According to industry reports, a major fire can cost a business millions in damages and lost revenue. In extreme cases, a single site going offline can jeopardise operations across the entire company.
And it’s not only about money. Under UK fire safety legislation, failing to take proper precautions can result in fines, business closure, or even prison sentences for directors and responsible persons. Beyond regulatory implications, reputational damage from a fire can take years to repair.
How EMFS Reduce the Risk
At EMFS, we work directly with recycling and industrial facilities to keep people, property, and reputations safe. Our bespoke services are designed to match the unique risks of recycling sites:
On-Site Fire Crews – Trained professionals with specialist knowledge in waste and lithium-based fires.
Fire Risk Assessments & Planning – Comprehensive audits and Fire Protection Plans (FPP) tailored to your facility.
Monitoring & Detection – Thermal imaging, hot-spot patrols, and 24/7 fire watch services.
Three Levels of Fire Cover – From single fire watch officers to full-time 24/7 firefighting teams with appliances and equipment.
As Michael “Nev” Griffiths, EMFS’s Recycling Operations Manager, explains:
“Us being there saves resources from the local authority. Fires in recycling can burn for days, tying up two, three, even four fire engines. By being on site, we not only protect the facility but also free up those crews to attend other emergencies.”
Since EMFS has been embedded across multiple UK sites, fires have been contained and extinguished without local fire services needing to intervene - a direct financial, operational, and reputational benefit to our clients.
The Hidden Risk: Lithium Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are now one of the leading causes of recycling fires. Unlike traditional fires, lithium blazes can ignite spontaneously, behave unpredictably, and resist conventional suppression methods. Without trained crews and tailored strategies, these fires can escalate beyond control in minutes.
That’s why having EMFS-trained firefighters on-site is crucial. They understand how to manage, contain, and suppress these risks quickly, before they turn into catastrophic events.
Be Proactive: Take the Fire Risk & Preparedness Scorecard
Fire safety isn’t about reacting, it’s about planning, prevention, and preparedness. That’s why EMFS has launched the Fire Risk & Preparedness Scorecard, a free online tool designed specifically for recycling and waste management facilities.
📊 In just 20 questions, you’ll:
Uncover vulnerabilities in prevention, detection, and response.
Check compliance with fire safety regulations.
Identify gaps in training, equipment, and planning.
Receive a personalised report with actionable steps to improve safety.
It’s free, it takes less than 10 minutes, and it could be the difference between control and catastrophe.
Building a Safer Recycling Industry
The recycling sector is at the heart of the UK’s sustainability mission, but it can only thrive if it is safe, compliant, and resilient. Fires threaten not just individual facilities but entire supply chains, local communities, and emergency services.
This Recycle Week 2025, EMFS stands alongside recycling organisations as their safety partner, providing the planning, people, and protection needed to reduce fire risk, safeguard staff, and keep the industry moving forward.
Without robust fire protection, a single incident can halt operations, damage reputations, and cost millions. Prevention is business protection.
🚨 Ready to see how fire-ready your facility really is?
Take the free Fire Risk & Preparedness Scorecard today and get your personalised report in minutes.
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