A major fire erupted early Tuesday at an A2A waste sorting and recycling plant in Novate Milanese, near Milan, involving both storage warehouses used for paper, cardboard, plastic and tyres. Thirty-five firefighters across 12 crews worked to contain the blaze, which broke out around 5 a.m. and spread across more than half the facility before being largely brought under control.
One worker suffered minor injuries and was taken to Niguarda hospital in stable condition. The flames originated in the tyre and plastic waste warehouse, though much of the burning material was reported to be compacted paper bales.
Italy's environmental protection agency Arpa said initial air quality readings in nearby residential areas showed no critical pollutant levels, noting smoke dispersion limited ground-level concentrations. The agency plans to install a high-volume air sampler for continued monitoring. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.