The increase of fires at recycling plants, which have overwhelmingly been caused by Lithium-ion batteries (the most popular type of rechargeable battery) is a national issue.

Lithium-ion batteries can ignite when improperly discarded with general waste.

These batteries, now found in everyday electronics like e-cigarettes, phones, and e-bikes, often get thrown out in regular trash, leading to battery-related fires in waste management facilities.

Last December firefighters took several hours to get a fire, reportedly caused by staff using on-site machinery, under control at Bridge Works in Cadwell Lane, Hitchin

This February firefighters took seven hours to tackle a blaze at the Nationwide Metal Recycling centre in Cadwell Lane, Hitchin. Then in July Hitchin residents were urged by Herts Fire Control to close their windows due to a "large fire" at the same site.

At the time Cllr Morris Bright, the Hertfordshire County Council executive member of public health and community safety, released a statement stressing that the authority recognised and shared "public concern and would like to thank those who quickly contacted us for help".

Hitchin North County Councillor Ian Albert visited the site and posted on X in July that "batteries should have all been removed from the site. As Councillors, we said the last time to Fire Service, Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive, that metal recycling on the site was neither safe or appropriate. We will raise this again in coming days".

Following the July 2024 general election, the new Labour government included a commitment to introduce a Product Safety and Metrology Bill in the July 2024 King's Speech.

It said the bill would enable the UK to "address challenges" arising from technological advances "such as the fire risk associated with e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries" and was welcomed by Electrical Safety First.

Since then, the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill has been debated in The House of Lords which, if passed, would provide regulations concerning the safe storage, use and disposal of such batteries in the UK.

Whilst new laws may affect the drivers of the issue, there remains a complex number of different actors with responsibilities for this particular site in Hitchin.

North Herts District Council helpfully shared a breakdown with Hitchin Nub News of the district and county responsibilities should a fire situation occur at any of the recycling plants on the Hitchin Industrial Estate:

Fire: Fire-related incidents are a matter for Hertfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service.

Land ownership: North Herts Council has the freehold for the site which is leased to SHUKCO 323 Limited (formerly SITA MR Limited). Nationwide Metal Recycling Limited are sub tenants of the property and North Herts Council have no direct contractual relationship with the company.

Planning: Hertfordshire County Council are the planning authority responsible for the site with both strategic planning and development control responsibilities. As the waste disposal authority, Hertfordshire County Council also have a contract with Nationwide Metal Recycling Ltd regarding waste metal.

Licensing: The Environment Agency are the relevant licensing body to permit the operation of the site. North Herts Council's remit is to regulate the buying and selling of scrap metal.

Environmental Health: As the licensing authority, The Environment Agency regulate the site according to the terms of the permit and would be responsible for enforcing any breaches of the permit's conditions or any nuisance resulting from the operation of the site in accordance with the terms of the permit.

Air and water pollution: The Environment Agency.

Roads: Hertfordshire County Council Highways.