Workers at Prime Recycling fell ill after opening boxes containing the substance, which became airborne. Fourteen people were taken to the emergency room, according to the Asheville Fire Department.

The department's hazardous materials team responded to help identify the substance. Wesley Rogers, the division chief over special operations, said urea is common in many products.

"It's a chemical that's found in a lot of different stuff, most commonly in fertilizer and a chemical that's used to clean diesel fuel motors when they're operating," Rogers said.

The Asheville Fire Department operates one of seven regional hazardous materials response teams in North Carolina. Rogers said the team has specialized equipment capable of identifying chemicals in solid, liquid, or gas form.

The incident has raised concerns about the dangers of improperly disposed materials entering recycling facilities. Eric Bradford, director of operations at Asheville GreenWorks, said workers depend on the public to sort and dispose of items correctly. Once materials arrive at a recycling facility, workers often handle and sort them by hand, increasing the risk of packages breaking open or leaking.

Asheville GreenWorks is hosting a Hard 2 Recycle event on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at T.C. Roberson High School in Arden. The event will accept electronics, batteries, small appliances, cords, and certain types of foam, but hazardous materials will not be accepted.

Buncombe County's next household hazardous waste collection is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the county landfill, located at 85 Panther Branch Road in Alexander.

The incident underscores the importance of proper waste disposal to protect workers and prevent similar emergencies.