Fire in Couillet Controlled, Train Traffic Resumed
A significant fire that broke out on Saturday at the Tibi PMC (Plastic, Metal, Cans) sorting center in Couillet, near Charleroi, Belgium, has been brought under control with no casualties reported, according to RTBF. Train services on the Charleroi-Central to Tamines line, which were suspended as a precaution, resumed shortly after 19:00 following an infrastructure inspection.
Context
The fire started around 14:00 on Saturday, May 23, in plastic bales stored on the parking area of the Valtris sorting facility, operated by Tibi, a public intercommunal waste management company serving approximately 425,000 residents in the Charleroi region. The site sorts plastic, metal, and carton packaging from the blue bag collection system. Belgium was experiencing summer-like temperatures near 30°C on the weekend, which may have contributed to the conditions.
About Tibi
Tibi is a public intercommunal waste management authority responsible for integrated waste management across the Charleroi metropolitan area. The Valtris PMC sorting center in Couillet is a key facility in the region’s recycling infrastructure, processing packaging waste from households across the region.
Key Developments
Emergency services deployed around 20 firefighters from the Zone de Secours Hainaut-Est, supported by Civil Protection with hydraulic equipment. Fabien Berti, Commander of the Hainaut-Est fire zone, confirmed that the flames originated in plastic waste. According to L’Avenir, the fire was brought under control by approximately 16:00, preventing it from reaching any buildings.
The blaze produced a large plume of toxic smoke, prompting authorities to issue a BE-Alert warning to local residents. Police advised residents to stay indoors with doors and windows closed. A significant police presence was also deployed to keep pedestrians at a safe distance and divert traffic in the area.
All workers at the site were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported — a particularly positive outcome given the fatal fire that occurred at the same facility in July 2024.
Train traffic between Charleroi-Central and Tamines was suspended for several hours as a precautionary measure. Infrabel, the rail infrastructure manager, conducted an inspection of approximately 1,200 meters of track and confirmed there was no damage to the infrastructure. “An inspection of the tracks showed there was no damage to the infrastructure, so train traffic can resume,” Infrabel stated, as reported by RTBF. Service resumed after 19:00.
Analysis
Céline Peterbroucke, spokesperson for Tibi, stated that initial observations suggest the fire was likely caused by a battery discarded in PMC waste. “We think it could be a battery, thrown into a PMC bag, which with the high temperatures and sun could have led to the start of the flames,” she told L’Avenir. In a separate statement, she added that “initial observations suggest that the fire could be linked to the presence of a battery in the sorted materials.”
This incident highlights a recurring challenge at waste sorting facilities. Peterbroucke confirmed that similar fires have occurred at the site in the past, often linked to heat, compression, and the presence of batteries and power cells in blue bags. In July 2024, a fatal fire at the same Valtris center resulted in the death of a worker who was clearing space for firefighters, as reported by La Libre.
Batteries and power cells discarded in household waste are a known fire hazard at recycling facilities worldwide. When compressed, damaged, or exposed to heat, lithium-ion and other battery types can undergo thermal runaway, igniting surrounding materials. The DHnet/Belga report confirmed that Tibi stated the fire was linked to “the presence of a small battery in the sorted materials.”
What’s Next
The sorting center building itself was not damaged, and the material losses are limited to the stored bales, suggesting minimal impact on the site’s operations. The rapid response by emergency services prevented a more serious incident, and the activation of the BE-Alert system — Belgium’s government mass notification system — demonstrated effective public safety protocols for incidents involving toxic smoke plumes.
This incident reinforces the need for greater public awareness about proper disposal of batteries and electronic waste, which should not be placed in PMC bags. As summer temperatures continue to rise across Europe, the risk of similar incidents at waste facilities may increase. Whether Tibi or local authorities will release a formal investigation report or implement additional fire prevention measures at the Valtris site remains to be seen.