The letter laid out the "significant issues with Lithium-Ion batteries that are present in the waste  industry across the UK".

Whilst the attention has been focused on the Hitchin fires there have have been "reports of fires at the Council Recycling Centre at Letchworth in early December and one refuse vehicle fire so far this year, within the North Herts Council area, where batteries were also the suspected cause". 

The Environment Agency (EA) also managed expectations as to what it can actually do in response to the increased risk of fires.

"Through our Regulatory activity, our Environment Officers, do all they can to mitigate these risks, but with the current influx of sometimes small Lithium-Ion batteries in vapes and small electronic equipment, we can never be certain that we can eradicate the risk of fires altogether". 

 Speaking specifically to actions at the Hitchin site the letter explains that:

"Following the first fire at the Global Ardour site, Environment Officers implemented more stringent measures relating to the storage of Lithium-Ion batteries to minimise the risk. These measures have the support of the Fire and Rescue Service, with whom we have been working closely with throughout".

What won't be happening is additional air monitoring with the EA justifying the decision by saying they are "working closely with Hertfordshire County Council's Public Health Department to consider air quality monitoring. Following discussions, both agencies do not feel that additional monitoring would be beneficial as monitoring is already being undertaken at the Global Ardour site".

What may give more residents hope is the EA letting the Council know that a "permit review is already being undertaken for the Global Ardour site to ensure that the permit meets current regulatory and safety standards and work is ongoing with the NMR site to implement an update to their permit". 

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