Worcestershire Council warns of fire risks after battery blaze at recycling site

A battery-related fire broke out at a metal recycling site in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, in the early hours of Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service responded to the blaze, which was confirmed to have been caused by a battery. No casualties were reported.

Worcestershire County Council has issued an urgent warning to residents regarding the dangers of improper waste disposal. Councillor Josh Robinson, cabinet member for the environment, emphasized that while batteries are small and easily overlooked, the fires they cause can be severe.

Data from insurer QBE indicates that UK fire services responded to 1,760 lithium-ion battery fires in 2025, representing a 147 per cent increase over the previous three years. Additionally, the Environmental Services Association estimates that battery-related fires now cost the UK more than £1 billion annually, a significant increase from £150 million in 2021.