Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a recycling centre on Ferry Lane in Rainham.
A pile of mixed waste in an open air recycling facility was alight. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1615 and the fire was under control by 1947. Fire crews from Wennington, Barking and Dagenham fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.