Islington waste fires cost £1m as battery disposal rules stall in Lords
North London Waste Authority links four blazes in 14 months to lithium-ion batteries crushed in household rubbish
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Only one named source (NLWA) with no independent verification of claims.
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Headline overstates certainty of battery cause without definitive proof.
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A fire at Hornsey Street Waste Transfer Station in Islington on 28 July 2026 caused at least £1 million in damage and forced the site to close until 1 August. The North London Waste Authority, which runs the facility, said the blaze was the fourth at a north London waste centre in the past year.
London Fire Brigade sent 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters to the scene. No injuries were reported, but the authority said the cost of repairs will be met by council taxpayers across the seven boroughs it serves.
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Dunn served as a councillor for Holloway from 1994 to 2006 and was mayor in 2002-03
Batteries blamed for rising waste fires
The North London Waste Authority told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that damaged lithium-ion batteries are the main driver of the recent fires. The authority said batteries can ignite when crushed or exposed to high temperatures, reaching temperatures comparable to molten lava.
Islington Council Leader Una O’Halloran said a fire on Christmas Eve 2025 was caused by a battery that combusted after being incorrectly placed in household waste and crushed by a loading vehicle. Around 60 firefighters attended that incident, which damaged essential site equipment.
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David Pollock, a former Labour peer, will argue special reasons to avoid disqualification at an October hearing.
I am asking all residents to play their part by recycling batteries separately, using dedicated recycling points for small electrical items, and returning vapes through retailer take-back schemes wherever possible.
Una O’Halloran, Islington Council Leader
London Fire Brigade confirmed four fires at the Hornsey Street site since June 2025. One was caused by an improperly disposed cigarette, and another was not investigated. The causes of the other two, including the 28 July fire, remain undetermined. The brigade said it cannot legally attribute a fire to lithium-ion batteries without definitive proof.
Calls for stricter battery rules
The North London Waste Authority serves over two million residents in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. It has urged the government to intervene in what it calls the “zombie battery” crisis, which it says causes 200 fires a year at UK recycling centres.
Current law requires batteries sold in the UK to carry labels stating they should not be placed in general household waste. The government has introduced reforms to enforce hazardous waste classification for batteries and tighten rules for manufacturers. However, the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill, introduced in the House of Lords in 2024, remains under debate.
If passed, the bill would ban the sale of electric micro-mobility vehicles and lithium-ion batteries that have not undergone conformity assessment. Online platforms would be required to ensure products comply with safety rules, and sellers would have to display warnings about improper disposal.
What residents can do
Residents in the seven north London boroughs are asked to dispose of batteries and small electrical items at dedicated recycling points or through council collection schemes. Vapes can be returned through retailer take-back schemes. The North London Waste Authority has published a list of local recycling points on its website.
The next formal step for the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill is a committee stage in the House of Lords. No date has been set for the debate.
Questions this report answers
+How much damage did the 28 July fire cause?
The fire at Hornsey Street Waste Transfer Station on 28 July 2026 caused at least £1 million in damage. The North London Waste Authority said the cost will be met by council taxpayers across seven north London boroughs.
+What is causing the fires at Islington’s waste site?
The North London Waste Authority says lithium-ion batteries crushed in household rubbish are the likely cause of four fires at the Hornsey Street site since June 2025. Batteries can ignite when damaged or exposed to high temperatures.
+What can residents do to prevent waste fires?
Residents should dispose of batteries and small electrical items at dedicated recycling points or through council collection schemes. Vapes can be returned through retailer take-back schemes. General waste bins should not be used for these items.
+What happens next with the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill?
The bill, introduced in 2024, is still under debate in the House of Lords. The next step is a committee stage, but no date has been set. If passed, it would tighten rules on battery sales and disposal.
News London Desk
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