The Resource Recovery Centre at Wither Road, Blenheim has been significantly damaged due to a fire in the facility yesterday and will be closed for some time however recycling efforts will continue in Marlborough.

Council’s Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas said a large clean up was ahead but a plan was being worked on to ensure Marlborough people can continue to recycle.

“Our kerbside collection will continue as normal and we are investigating options for handling these recyclable products while the Resource Recovery Centre is out of action. As soon as these arrangements are confirmed, we will let the public know,” Mr Lucas said.

The Resource Recovery Centre, the Dump Shop, the Blenheim Transfer Station and the Hazardous Waste Centre all remain closed following the fire.

“We are working as quickly as we can to get the Blenheim Transfer Station and Hazardous Waste Centre open and will update the public as soon as this information is available.

“The Dump Shop has no fire damage but there is potential for smoke damaged items within it. It will remain closed until at least Monday to allow for clean up while the Resource Recovery Centre, where the fire started, will be closed for some time.”

Mr Lucas said staff on site at the facility responded quickly when the fire was noticed and did everything they could to extinguish it.

“They made the right decision at the right time to evacuate when it became apparent they needed to and most importantly, no-one was hurt.”

Six appliances attended the blaze including one from Nelson later in the day.

“The fire was extinguished at 1.30am and then reignited around one hour later so the fire crews worked through the early hours of the morning to put it out again. Around 20 -30,000 litres of water was poured into the building and two or three times that outside.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the fire crews involved - many of whom are volunteers – including multiple units from Blenheim along with Wairau Valley, Renwick, Base Woodbourne and Nelson for their hard work in difficult circumstances,” Mr Lucas said.

The fire started in a pile of cardboard but soon spread to other products in the recycling centre including cans, plastics and paper.

“The damage to the building is extensive but on the positive side, the plastic bailer and our sorting line appears to be in reasonably good condition,” Mr Lucas said.

A fire investigator has visited the site but no cause has yet been identified.

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