Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a fire in a refuse centre in Jenkins Lane, East Ham.
A large quantity of shredded household waste was destroyed by fire.
Station Manager Ian Frame, who was at the scene, said: "Around 600 tonnes of shredded household waste was alight and crews worked hard to bring the fire under control."
The Brigade was called at 1539 and the fire was under control by 1937. Crews from East Ham, Barking, Plaistow, Ilford, Poplar, Stratford and other surrounding fire stations attended the incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.