October 1996---Plasticycle and Pro Plastics in Eau Claire, Iowa

April 1997---Modern Plastic Recovery in Haviland, Ohio

June 1997---Plastics company in El Paso, Texas

July 1997---Plasimet in Hamilton, Canada

July 1997---Micro Pulverizing Plant in Lockport, New York

September 1997---American Commodities Inc in Flint, Michigan

September 1997---Amigo Bag in Oakland, California

January 1998---Plastics Connections and Recycling Inc in Hartsville, South Carolina

October 1998---Polymers Supply Co in Emporia, North Carolina

March 2000--- Ponz Recycling Industries in Cleveland, Ohio

April 2000---Arrow Performance Plastics in Adrian, Michigan

April 2000---B&B Recycling in Fontana, California

October 2000---MBA Polymers Inc. in Richmond, California

October 1996: EAU CLAIRE, IOWA, Both the Plasticycle and Pro Plastics companies were destroyed by a fire so hot that copper flowed like taffy and evidence that would have helped to determine the cause of the fire was lost in the flames.

April 1997: HAVILAND, OHIO, Fire destroyed the Modern Plastic Recovery facility, a plastics recycling operation, and forced the evacuation of an entire village because of a thick, black, low-lying smoke.

June 1997: EL PASO, TEXAS, Huge warehouse fire released dangerous gases and pollutants. The warehouse was used for plastics recycling.

July 1997: HAMILTON, CANADA, The Plasmitet fire was one of Canada's worst industrial toxic fires. It burned for 4 days, releasing 200 tons of burned vinyl, zinc, lead, and other metals in water runoff, and toxic fumes from polyvinyl chloride, a plastic used in home building materials. There was concern about dioxins and hydrogen chloride, benzene, toluene, furans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), most of which are known or suspected carcinogens. Residents were evacuated and bans were placed on eating locally grown leafy vegetables. Several people reported to hospitals and medical offices with complaints of skin, throat, and eye irritation. Both the owner and operator of the site were sentenced to make restitution payments and perform community service. This fire appears to have contributed nearly 5% of all toxic air releases for Canada in 1997.

July 1997: LOCKPORT, NEW YORK, Fire and a later explosion destroyed 1/3 of the Micro Pulverizing Plant, forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes within a ½ mile radius and knocked out power to 178 residents. The evacuations of homes were prompted by the fear that 22 pallets of the chemical hexamethylenetetramine would become quickly heated and pose a deadly risk. Hexamethylenetetramine, when quickly heated, breaks down into a deadly poison that is absorbed through the skin. It also breaks down into formaldehyde gas, which is carcinogenic.

September 1997: FLINT, MICHIGAN, A fire at plastics recycler American Commodities Inc. destroyed the firm's warehouse. The company was evacuated and no one was injured. However, the fire caused extensive smoke and water damage to the facility.

September 1997: OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A six-alarm fire destroyed the Amigo Bag plastics recycling plant, shutting down freeway ramps and major city streets, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses, and sending aloft fumes of noxious smoke that was visible across the bay. The company recycled polyethylene for the packaging industry. People were treated for both smoke inhalation and foreign materials in the eyes.

January 1998: HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, Plastics Connections and Recycling Inc was destroyed-heaps of plastic, scrap metal, machinery and computers melted in the inferno, which could be

October 1998: EMPORIA, NORTH CAROLINA, A fire at Polymers Supply Co., a rubber and plastic recycling business sent a plume of black smoke drifting for miles into North Carolina. Several families downwind of the blaze temporarily fled their homes to escape the foul smoke.

March 2000: CLEVELAND, OHIO, Fire at Ponz Recycling Industries released polystyrene emissions into the atmosphere, as well as destroyed most of the equipment inside the building. It reached 400,000 pounds of processed post-industrial plastics.

April 2000: ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, Fire in storage yard of Arrow Performance Plastics, which recycles plastic automotive parts. The fire emitted a thick black smoke. Residents to the west of the site were asked to close their windows and stay indoors to avoid contact with the smoke. Some of the residents were evacuated as well.

April 2000: FONTANA, CALIFORNIA, B&B Recycling facility and 3 other nearby businesses were destroyed because of a fire caused by the careless use of smoking materials. The fire generated a thick black smoke that could be seen miles away.

October 2000: RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, Explosion and fire at the Advanced Plastics Recycling Pilot Line Facility of the MBA Polymers Inc. It resulted in 1 death and greater than 200 injured persons. Injuries included eye and throat irritation, as well as headache. Shelter-in-place warnings were issued, businesses were shut down, and 12 schools downwind of the fire in Richmond and San Pablo were closed due to the toxic black smoke emitted by the fire. The fumes contained some of the byproducts of burning plastic, including benzene, toluene, xylene, and butane, all of which can be very toxic. The fire was found to release toxic airborne particles in quantities that were 1/4 of the toxicity level set by the California EPA. Since it fell under these limits, it was assumed that there would be no harmful long-term effects from these exposures. The aim of this company was to develop and demonstrate advanced mechanical technologies for plastics, and so stored many potentially toxic but effective chemicals on site. However, it was not required to file any air permits for these chemicals or processes.