Sandy Field, Save Our Susquehanna, outlines the threat posed by the Encina “Advanced Recycling” Plant to the community and watershed around the Susquehanna River in Point township, Northumberland County, PA.

The proposed plant would process 450,000 tons of plastic waste every year. Community members are concerned about the potential release of toxic air and water pollution into the local environment and the hazardous waste would produce. The Susquehanna is a major drinking water source and recreational area that is central to communities nearby.

This clip is from the Halt the Harm webinar, “Chemical Recycling Myths Debunked”

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Key Facts:

• Located along route 11 on the Susquehanna River in Point township, Northumberland County, PA
• Will process 450,000 tons of post-consumer plastic waste per year
  • This will be shipped on trucks to the site
• Will turn #3-#7 plastics into volatile organic chemicals
  • Benzene, toluene, xylene, and propylene (BTX-P)
  • This will be shipped by rail along the river
• Facility will use up to 2.9 million gallons of water from the river each day
• Industrial and domestic water treatment on site and discharge back into river
• Pyrolysis powered by natural gas pipeline to site or by burning pyrolysis oil

Local Community Concerns

• No record of success with similar plant - This plant would be the first of its kind
• Flooding - Site is in the 100-year flood plain of the Susquehanna River
• Air pollution – toxins from vaporization of plastics, emissions from burning natural gas, emissions from flaring
• Water pollution - microplastic contamination of discharged water, excess heat discharge into river
• Traffic on route 11 - Sunbury intersection from rte 15, Danville intersection from rte 80 ◦ 100 trucks per day (one every 5 mins during business hours)
• Light and noise pollution
• Toxic chemical storage on site (flood, fire, leaks)
• Transport of toxic chemicals by rail along the river

📹 Recording for “Chemical Recycling Myths Debunked”