? A hazmat situation at the Smithtown Recycling Plant in Commack created dangerous fumes and sent at least 12 people to the hospital Thursday afternoon.

Officials say the situation began when workers who were separating materials inside the plant reported smelling a noxious odor throughout the building. They say the fumes burned their throats and gave them chest pains.

Multiple fire departments and MacArthur Airport?s hazmat team rushed to the plant around 10 a.m. Twelve workers were taken to St. Catherine?s Hospital in Smithtown. Experts at the hospital say they immediately decontaminated the men and tested them for breathing complications. All of the workers were released.

The fumes were produced by the mixing of chlorine tablets with certain recyclables, according to authorities.

?We've been doing this for 30 years and I don't know how it could've been avoided,? Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said of the recycling process. ?People should be a little more disciplined with what they put out to be recycled."

Town of Smithtown