CLARKS GROVE, Minn. – Fire destroyed a plant that recycled old baling wire into plastic pellets. The north and east buildings of Green Group Reprocessing were too far gone to save when the first fire crew arrived about 4 a.m. Polymers inside kept burning even after one roof collapsed. Only after seven hours could firefighters declare the fire was out. No one was injured. A third building, also large, was saved. Agents from both the state fire marshal and the pollution control agency were called to investigate. The pollution concern was air contamination and runoff from thousands of gallons of water that were poured on the fire. Firefighters responded from Alden, Albert Lea, Ellendale, Emmons, Glenville, Hartland, Hayward and Hollandale.
Green Group Reprocessing. Off Interstate 35 south of Clarks Grover and seven miles north of Albert Lea. The plant formerly was known as I-90 Reprocessing. Image: Freeborn County sheriff
Raw ingredients. The plastic straps used to bind bales.