Beenham compost fire extinguished after seven months

The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) issued a statement on Tuesday (Jun 25), confirming the smouldering heap had been extinguished, following a three week operation at a site situated on part of a Grundon Waste Management owned site, at Pip’s Way, leased to the now defunct company Good 2 Grow Recycling Ltd.
Since June 5, firefighters have visited the site daily, in a labour extensive operation, involving digging out, spreading and wetting piles of waste organic material, assisted by manpower and machinery committed by Grundon to the operation.
RBFRS Group Manager, Paul Maynard, said it had proved, he said: “A pretty unpleasant job for the firefighters and digger drivers,” and continued:
“We were expecting that it could take three weeks to move, spread and wet the enormous piles of waste organic material, but they worked incredibly hard and we were actually able to start dismantling the operation earlier than expected,” while thanking Grundon for their help.
Estates Director for Grundon, Andrew Short, said the operation had proved, he said: “A real team effort,” adding Grundon was now working with the Environment Agency (EA) to decide a method and timescale to clear the site, adding:
“This may take some time but both parties are committed to seeing it through.”
Pollution Prevention and Control Officer with the EA, Jenny Cooper, said the EA would ensure any remaining waste on site was removed, whlle the EA investigation continued into the operating company, Good 2 Grow Recycling Limited.
The RBFRS deployed two fire engines and around 10 firefighters in the operation of almost three weeks to tackle the remainder of the 10-metre high smouldering heap – initially estimated at around 2,500 tonnes – which self combusted at the end of November and has since re-ignited several times, after the fire service initially opted for controlled burning.
Grundon have said the site was leased to Good2Grow in early 2010, but the company left the site around July 2012, leaving an operational headache for Grundon.
According to West Berkshire Council, the council had received about 50 complaints, mostly about the effects and impact of the smoke on neighbouring properties in Theale, Beenham and Aldermaston.