Islington recycling centre reopening remains uncertain after fire

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-30 12:49 3 min read

A row of green and blue recycling bins outside a brick collection building.

A fire at Islington’s Reuse and Recycling Centre on Tuesday 28 July was brought under control after 15 fire engines and around 100 London Fire Brigade firefighters attended. No one was injured, but the centre remains closed while Islington Council works towards reopening it.

Residents should check the council’s website and social media channels before travelling to the facility. No reopening date or alternative site has been confirmed.

No reopening date has been confirmed

Islington Council Leader Cllr Una O’Halloran said the council’s immediate focus is making the centre safe and getting it open again as soon as possible. An update will be published through the council’s official channels when more information is available.

The council has not officially confirmed what caused Tuesday’s fire. It said the incident was the fourth fire at the recycling centre in the past year, placing renewed attention on the risks faced by waste workers, collection vehicles and recycling facilities.

The closure means residents cannot currently rely on the centre for the services it normally provides. Until the council confirms that it has reopened, people should avoid making an unnecessary journey and use only recycling options identified by the council.

Islington recycling centre reopening remains uncertain after fire

Battery fires are a recurring recycling risk

The council said lithium-ion batteries in everyday items such as vapes, mobile phones, laptops, e-bikes and e-scooters can cause fires if they are damaged, charged incorrectly or thrown away with general waste.

These batteries can be hidden inside electrical products and may be damaged during waste collection or processing. The council’s statement links incorrect disposal with risks to residents, workers, collection vehicles and recycling facilities, although it has not said that a battery caused the latest fire.

The previous incident cited by the council occurred in December. A battery that had been incorrectly placed in household waste combusted after being driven over by a loading vehicle, and around 60 firefighters attended.

The repeated incidents can also affect the delivery of waste and recycling services. Islington Council said fires create financial costs through the repair and replacement of equipment, as well as posing a safety risk to people working at or using waste facilities.

How Islington residents can reduce the risk

Residents are being asked to recycle batteries separately and not place them in household waste. Small electrical items should be taken to dedicated recycling points, while disposable vapes should be returned through retailer take-back schemes wherever possible.

Information about local battery and electrical recycling options is available on the Islington Council website. Residents should follow the council’s guidance for their particular item and check for updated information before disposing of it.

The council will announce when the Reuse and Recycling Centre can reopen. Until then, the confirmed next step is to monitor its website and social media channels for the reopening update and any information about available recycling options.

Source: Islington Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report checks the fire response, confirmed injury information, reopening position and battery-disposal guidance against the supplied Islington Council source.