Carpet Recycling Plant Destroyed by Fire

Saint George, SC, April 28, 2008--A Saint George recycling plant that handled carpet and other materials was destroyed by fire.

The Premier Environmental Plant on Highway 15 in Saint George caught fire at about 11 o'clock Saturday night. Crews were at the scene until 7 o’clock Sunday.

"Normally in a house fire you have small bundles of clothing that smolder and we'll be able to put those out. But this is compacted bundles here so this is a whole different ball game," said St. George Fire Department Captain Rickie Jenkins.

The Premier Environmental Plant specialized in tightly bundled materials like cardboard, carpet, and diapers. The bundles were shipped off and burned as a coal replacement, and hundreds of bundles are expected to continue burning at least four more days.