Enva Company Statement – Fire at eWaste Recycling Facility, Perth

On Saturday afternoon (18.7.26), a fire occurred at Enva's Perth e-waste recycling facility after a lithium battery within incoming e-waste material ignited.

Thankfully, our fire detection, containment and response systems worked as they were designed to. The fire was contained within a designated waste containment area, preventing it from spreading further. There was no damage to our processing plant, the facility remains fully operational and, most importantly, there were no injuries.

We would like to thank our colleagues on site for their calm, professional response and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for their swift and expert support in bringing the incident safely under control.

While Saturday's incident was safely managed, it highlights one of the biggest challenges facing the recycling industry. Lithium batteries are now embedded in an ever-growing range of everyday products and, when they enter the waste stream damaged, discarded incorrectly or unidentified, they present a significant fire risk for recycling operators across the UK and beyond.

This is an issue that requires a much stronger, coordinated response. Manufacturers, policymakers, producers, retailers, consumers and the recycling sector all have a role to play in improving product design, collection systems, public awareness and the safe handling of batteries throughout their lifecycle.

Enva is committed to helping lead that change. We actively work with the Environmental Services Association (ESA) on industry-wide battery safety initiatives, play a leading role within the Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) forum, and contribute to the ICER Fire Safety Group alongside policymakers including DEFRA to help strengthen guidance, improve collection systems and support the development of safer policy and best practice across the sector.

As the transition to a more electrified, circular economy gathers pace, improving battery safety must become a shared priority across the entire value chain.