Staff at Altens recycling centre ‘redeployed’ or put on paid leave after massive fire

By Lauren Taylor

July 11 2022, 2:39 pm

Firefighters were at Altens recycling centre for five days. Image: Chris Sumner / DC Thomson.

Staff have been “redeployed” or put on paid leave following a large-scale fire at an Altens recycling centre over the weekend.

Fire crews have been at the scene of the incident at the Suez recycling centre in Aberdeen since Friday afternoon.

Although operations are ongoing, the building has been severely damaged in the large-scale blaze.

The ceiling of the facility has been severely damaged by the blaze. Picture by Kenny Elrick.

With the facility closed, bosses at Suez have been working on alternative arrangements for Aberdeen’s household waste and recycling to minimise disruption.

Aberdeen City Council announced Monday’s bin collections would be postponed until the weekend.

Suez has now explained collections will resume from Tuesday, with collections on Saturday replacing those missed on Monday.

Meanwhile, staff from the plant are being redeployed or placed on paid leave.

John Wilkinson, regional director for Suez recycling and delivery said once the fire has been dealt with they will be able to investigate the cause and assess the damage.

He said: “Whilst we manage this live incident, our staff at Altens are redeployed or placed on paid leave.

“When the fire has been dealt with we will be able to assess the full extent of the damage and there will be an investigation into the cause.

“I would like to thank the fire and rescue service for their continued efforts to manage the fire and apologise for the disruption to our neighbours and the local community.”

Fire operation ongoing

As well as bin collection disruption, some residents of Cove lost their water supply on Saturday due to the sheer amount being used to fight the fire.

Crews decided to pump directly from the harbour to minimise the disruption caused to the community.

Hareness Place and a section of Coast Road are both closed while firefighters continue their efforts.

The fire started around 4.30pm on Friday and crews managed to extinguish it by 10pm.

The blaze reignited around midnight – with more than 24 crews sent to tackle it.

Much of the building has been destroyed. Picture by Kenny Elrick.

Over the course of the weekend, crews have been working relentlessly to bring the fire under control.

IN PICTURES: Drone footage shows extent of Altens recycling centre fire

At the fire’s peak, more than 100 firefighters were sent to the site, with crews from as far as Montrose, Peterhead, and Dundee joining the effort.

Yesterday, area commander Matt Mason said crews will remain at the scene for quite some time to ensure it is safe to hand back to Suez.

One pump and an appliance remain at the scene to dampen down and make the area safe.

Thanks to community for patience

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Stephen Wood, head of service delivery for the north of Scotland, said today: “We were alerted at 4.37pm on Friday to reports of a fire within a recycling centre in Aberdeen.

“Operations Control mobilised nine fire appliances, plus a number of specialist resources, to the scene at Altens Industrial Estate, Hareness Place.

“Firefighters thereafter spent several hours fighting a highly challenging fire which had taken hold of a large area of mixed waste.

“Due to the nature of this significant incident, firefighters have been in attendance at the scene over the weekend.

“We currently have two fire appliances and two specialist resources in attendance today (Monday, July 11), where firefighters are working to dampen down remaining hotspots and make the area safe.

“While the fire was contained to within the recycling centre, we know there has been an impact on local residents, in terms of some wide-spread smoke and a reduced water supply. I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding as we work to extinguish it as quickly and safely as possible.”