A gas leak or natural gas leak does not smell like burning plastic.
Natural gas leaks smell more like rotten eggs, sulfur or sewage due to a chemical added to the natural gas called mercaptan which gives it the distinctive rotten egg or sulfurous odor.
Smelling burning plastic is often en electrical issue such as overheating plugs, overheating cords or wires or even an overheating motor.
If you continue to smell burning plastic you should check your cords, plugs, wires and even your breaker box etc and try to find the source and if you can't find the source you may need to contact the fire department to be safe.
Sometimes a washing machine or even a furnace vent, gas range or oven or electric range or oven may emit a burning plastic smell as well.
A gas leak or natural gas leak smells like rotten eggs or sewage or sulfur.
Natural gas on it's own is an odorless gas and the odor of rotten eggs, sulfur or sewage is added to the natural gas to help us with detecting natural gas leaks and prevent hazards and deadly explosions.
The odorant that is added to natural gas to make it smell like rotten, eggs, sulfur or sewage is called mercaptan.
Propane leaks also smell like rotten eggs, sulfur or sewage due to the added mercaptan.
Some people also find the smell of natural gas leaking or propane leaking similar to skunk spray or burnt garlic.
If you do smell natural gas or propane you should contact the gas company or fire department and get away from the house or area and don't use phones or electronics near the gas leak or turn on or off any light switches.
If you smell natural gas or propane leaking you should always get out of the house or building right away.
Natural gas can easily cause explosions when it leaks and even propane can also cause explosions.
Call 911 if you smell natural gas or your gas company.
Calling 911 can get a quicker response and they can help to detect natural gas leaks and be there in case of an explosion.