Major fire in Bad Harzburg: electronic waste goes up in flames!

Major fire in Bad Harzburg: electronic waste goes up in flames!

A major fire on the premises of an electronic waste disposal company in Harlingerode shocked the region on Sunday night. Shortly before midnight, the Bad Harzburg and Oker fire departments were alerted after massive smoke and flames were visible from the facility. Heavy efforts were required to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings. The connection between electrical devices and the associated challenges in disposal is becoming increasingly relevant in connection with this incident.

The fire department immediately focused on several mesh boxes that were filled with electronic waste. In order to get such an inferno under control, the operational keyword was increased to “Fire 3 – Large Fire”. An extensive water supply was required, which was quickly established with up to four pipes to the site. A water transport train from the Goslar city association was also called in to provide support. The situation was serious and a population warning was sent out through various channels due to the heavy smoke.

Ideas and measures

Around 155 emergency services with 83 vehicles were ultimately on site to fight the flames. The fire brigade sent the local fire brigades from Bad Harzburg, Bündheim-Schlewecke and many others into action. An excavator was also used to pull the fire apart in order to completely extinguish the fire. There was also support from the Volkswagen Braunschweig factory fire department's large-capacity fan to ventilate the smoke-filled warehouse. A positive sign: The hazardous substance measurements by the measuring and detection units showed that there were no dangerous substances in the air.

The police estimate the damage caused at around 10,000 euros. Fortunately, no one was injured, but at least ten e-waste containers were completely destroyed and another building sustained minor damage. The all-clear was given after a few hours when the fire was completely extinguished around Sunday morning.

Context of the electronic waste problem

The events in Harlingerode are not an isolated case, but reflect a growing problem. The consumption of electrical devices is constantly increasing and is leading to more and more electronic waste being created. Several million tons of electronic waste are generated worldwide every year; The challenge of environmentally friendly disposal and recycling is becoming increasingly important. Countries like China are at the top of these statistics, while Europe, with a recycling rate of 43%, has a stronger grip, including through the WEEE Directive, which promotes sustainable recycling.

The WEEE Directive requires member states to adhere to certain quotas for the collection and recycling of waste electrical equipment. However, the collection rate in Germany remained at only 32% in 2022, which is below the required 65%. This discrepancy is alarming because while in Germany around 98% of certain devices are recycled, other regions struggle with inadequate recycling infrastructure, which can lead to serious environmental and health risks.

Given these circumstances, it stands to reason that such fires and the associated risks could continue to increase in the future, especially if awareness of the sustainable disposal of electrical appliances does not increase. In addition to the direct damage caused by fires like the one in Harlingerode, responsibility for electronic waste is also a central issue that should not be lost sight of.

Further information about this incident can be found at regionalheute.de as well as ndr.de be retrieved. It's also worth taking a look at statista.com for comprehensive statistics about electronic waste.