Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a fire at a factory on Rigby Lane in Hayes.
A single-storey waste recycling shed and 400 tonnes of mixed waste recycling was destroyed by the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Dean Wilkinson, who was at the scene, said: "Firefighters worked swiftly to bring the fire under control.
"Two of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders were used at the scene as water towers, to get water on to the building externally.
"Around 10 gas cylinders were removed as a precaution as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat."
The Brigade was called at 2341 and the fire was under control by 0315. Fire crews from Hillingdon, Heathrow, Feltham, Hayes, Heston and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the failure of a damaged lithium-ion battery which ignited shredded waste material.