One more recycling plant, this time on the island of Lesvos, went on fire in the early morning hours of Tuesday and the toxic smoke forced authorities to order locals to stay indoors with closed doors and windows. It is the sixth recycling plant on fire in the last two weeks, that is since July 12, 2025.
The fire broke out inside the fenced premises of the facility, located in Panagiouda about 5 kilometers north of the city of Mytilene.
The fire generated thick toxic smoke, which drifted toward the city, triggering an automated warning from the Civil Protection Service urging residents in the vicinity to stay indoors with doors and windows closed.
Φωτιά πριν λίγη ώρα ξέσπασε σε εταιρεία που εδρεύει στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Μόριας στη Λέσβο και ασχολείται με την ανακύκλωση.
Η ατμόσφαιρα είναι ήδη αποπνικτικτική, ενώ ισχυρές δυνάμεις του @pyrosvestiki βρίσκονται ήδη στο πεδίο.#φωτιά pic.twitter.com/1jR9AkQhW8
— Στρατής Κοκκινέλλης (@kokkinellis) July 21, 2025
“The fire quickly grew in scale due to the presence of plastic and other flammable materials. Extremely high temperatures developed and we worked to contain the blaze to prevent it from spreading to surrounding fields. That risk has now been avoided, but the fire load remains substantial,” Panagiotis Bimboudis, head of the Lesvos-Lemnos Fire Service, told state broadcaster ERT.
Fires on recycling plants in Greece is an often phenomenon in the last couple of years, raising concerns about fire safety compliance, staffing and oversight at such facilities.
According to anatropinews.gr, a total of six fires broke out in less than a month:
July 12: in plastic recycling plant in Ritsona, NE Attica
July 11 & 12: two fires in Industrial zone of Sindos, W. Thessaloniki
July 14: Recycling plant in Alexandroupolis
July 21: Recycling plant of refrigerator spare parts in Aspropyrgos, W. Attica
The frequency of incidents is causing concern tor the Fire Department and local authorities: The simultaneous occurrence of scattered, large fires in warehouses and recycling plants is unprecedented, while speculation is growing about the role of flammable or even hazardous materials (such as batteries, electronic waste) in the genesis or spread of the fires, without, however, ruling out other causes.
“The environmental and health impacts are incalculable. The repeated burning of waste creates clouds of hazardous substances, putting pressure on local populations and testing the reflexes of the State,” report public health experts.
In the midst of the tourist and summer season, the numerous fires in recycling plants highlight insufficient prevention, but also the need for stricter management of hazardous materials, public information and control in the units.
During 2024-2025, Greece is experiencing a worrying increase in such incidents, which certainly require a comprehensive review of the institutional framework and operational readiness of state and local structures, anatropinews.gr stressed.
