Big response to recycling fire

The cause of a fire in Cambridge Road on Friday was still under investigation when this edition went to press.

Firefighters responded just after 6am on Friday to the blaze at the ResourceCo demolition waste recycling facility.

A large volume of smoke was visible during the fire – then steam generated as it was brought under control.

Waipā District Council reported a coordinated, multi-agency response was put in place and it included Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Waikato Regional Council, public health officials, and council staff.

Council’s environmental health and compliance teams also visited the site. Air quality monitoring was also undertaken by Waikato Regional Council, and the Medical Officer of Health provided public health advice.

District growth and regulatory services group manager Wayne Allan said the council would work with the site operator and relevant agencies to understand the cause and ensure all consent conditions were being met.

The News reported last May that ResourceCo had been awarded $2.57 million from the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund to build the country’s first dedicated construction and demolition recycling plant.

The report said once the plant was fully operational it would process up to 187,200 tonnes of waste a year – turning timber, concrete, gib, plastic and metal into biofuel, fertiliser, roading aggregate and landscaping material.

17 April 5pm

A fire at the ResourceCo demolition waste recycling facility on Cambridge Road earlier today has been contained, with ongoing monitoring in place.

Emergency services responded just after 6am this morning, with a large volume of smoke visible during the fire, and steam generated, as it was brought under control. While the fire has been extinguished, a number of hot spots remain and are being actively managed onsite.

A coordinated, multi-agency response has been in place, including Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Waikato Regional Council, public health officials, and council staff.

Council’s environmental health and compliance teams have attended the site. Air quality monitoring has been undertaken by Waikato Regional Council, and the Medical Officer of Health has provided public health advice.

Results received this afternoon indicate that ‘health-based air quality guidelines are not expected to be exceeded beyond the site boundary’. Air quality monitoring will continue over the weekend.

Waikato Regional Council is also assessing any potential impacts including water runoff from the site.

District growth and regulatory services group manager, Wayne Allan, said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

“Council will work closely with the site operator and relevant agencies to understand the cause and ensure all consent conditions are being met. Any necessary follow-up actions will be taken,” he said. – Waipa District Council

17 April 8am

Fire at ResourceCo

 

Volunteer firefighters have been at the scene of a fire at a recycling managed fill facility on the southwest of Cambridge since 5.45am where a blaze described by the Fire Service log as a “vegetation fire” was out of control.

ResourceCo Ltd, formerly Wasteworx, holds consents for a recycling facility, vermicomposting operation, sand quarry, and clean fill at 3831 Cambridge Road on the outskirts of Cambridge.

ResourceCo was allocated up to $2.57 million from the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund in 2024 to support the development of the plant in Cambridge, servicing Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki regions.

ResourceCo has applied to Waikato Regional Council for consents to discharge stormwater, dispose of managed fill on land, and divert/discharge groundwater. A land use consent is also needed from Waipā District Council as a discretionary activity.

The News understands the fire is not on the consented part of the site meaning any contamination is outside this area.

See: Quarry complaints levelled

See: Council reviews consent bid

See: Cambridge Community Board agenda

See: Request for information

See: Application form from ResourceCo

See: 3831 Cambridge Road, Cambridge application