Suspicious ammunition discovery prompts evacuation of Ivybridge Recycling Centre

Residents are being urged to take extra care when disposing of waste after Ivybridge Recycling Centre was closed and evacuated on Tuesday morning.

Devon County Council said the site was shut for around an hour after a tank shell was found in a non-recyclable waste container. 

READ NEXT: Pictures: Rescued ponies witness rare Northern Lights above Devon sanctuary

The person who left the item had already left the site before staff could speak to them.

As a precaution, the recycling centre was evacuated while Devon and Cornwall Police attended. 

The device was removed safely and no one was injured, and the site has since fully reopened.

Devon County Council said recycling centres across the county have previously had to close after suspicious or dangerous items were discovered. 

Items found in the past include unexploded ordnance, marine flares, old ammunition and containers holding unknown chemicals.

Each incident requires an emergency response and causes disruption to both staff and residents using the facilities.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for waste services, said the incident could have been avoided.

“Once again, we’ve had to close a centre because someone has tried to dispose of something that looked suspicious,” she said.

“These avoidable closures waste the valuable time of emergency services, our staff, and cause inconvenience to the public.”

She added that the discovery follows recent incidents involving wartime munitions elsewhere in Devon.

“This is particularly frustrating given that only last week the discovery of World War Two munitions in Exmouth and Plymouth caused evacuations.

“Given this, why would you think it is okay to put a tank shell in a skip and walk away?”

Councillor Hodgson urged residents to speak to staff if they are unsure about an item.

“If there’s any doubt, speak to staff first, don’t just throw it into a bay,” she said. “Items such as flares, fireworks, or ammunition must never be brought to our recycling centres.”

She also thanked staff and police for their response, adding: “Caution keeps everybody safe.”

Residents can find guidance on what items are accepted at household waste recycling centres on the Devon County Council website.