Recycling collections suspended across Central Bedfordshire following fire

A blaze broke out at the Bletchley Landfill site on Guernsey Road in Newton Leys at around 1am this morning (March 17), with six fire engines and crews initially called to tackle the incident.

Dry mixed recycling collected from residents’ homes is normally taken to the site, where it is bulked before being transported to a separate facility.

But with the station currently out of action as firefighters remain at the scene this afternoon, Central Bedfordshire Council says it is working with its contractor to put alternative waste transfer arrangements in place ‘as a matter of urgency.’

Residents are asked to continue to put their dry recycling bin out for collection as normal.

General waste, food waste and garden waste collections are continuing as normal and residents can continue to use bottle banks for glass recycling.

Although Household Waste Recycling Centres are operating as normal, residents are asked to store bulky waste items at home if possible while the disruption continues.

The incident generated multiple calls to Thames Valley Fire Control Service, and large plumes of smoke were visible in the surrounding areas.

Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed and to be prepared for the potential of disruption and smoke affecting visibility on local roads.

Bucks Fire and Rescue reported that the building was around 80 per cent damaged by fire and completely smoke-damaged, with crews using main jets, water delivered by the turntable ladder and positive pressure ventilation fans to tackle the blaze.

Opened in 1980, the 135.4-hectare non-hazardous landfill site takes in 1,000,000 tonnes of rubbish per year as well as restoration soils.

Executive member for sustainability and climate resilience at Central Bedfordshire Council Tracey Wye said: “We know residents will be concerned by this disruption and we are sorry for the inconvenience it will cause.

“Following the fire at the waste transfer station in Bletchley, we are working urgently with our contractor to put alternative arrangements in place and restore kerbside dry mixed recycling collections as soon as possible.

“We will keep residents updated as soon as more detail becomes available.”

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