First announced more than three years ago, Clean-Seas West Virginia aims to turn plastic waste into sustainable energy in the town of Quincy. The company plans to make fuels, including hydrogen, by burning plastic at high temperatures. The company’s website shows ongoing construction and equipment deliveries to the facility as recently as April.
Some local residents, however, have concerns about air quality issues. Residents note the facility is across the railroad tracks from Riverside High School. The location is a former 84 Lumber facility.
“Our local community is mobilizing to ensure that the voices of residents, who have significant concerns about air quality and long-term health impacts, are heard by the WVDEP,” local organizer Eric Carruthers said. “A crucial public meeting is scheduled for July 14, where the Division of Air Quality will be accepting formal comments.”
The $50 million facility is expected to employ at least 40 workers who will take plastic waste and turn it into clean fuels.
Dan Bates, Clean Vision’s CEO, said the company plans to recycle hundreds of tons of plastic per day.
“We’ll start with 100 tons per day of plastic feedstock,” he said. “And we expect to grow that to 500 or more.”
According to the United Nations, 400 million tons of plastic waste is generated every year, and only 10 percent of that is recycled.
According to the Clean-Seas website, Advanced Recycling: Pyrolysis can process a wide variety of plastics including those contaminated with food waste, unlike traditional recycling. Pyrolysis breaks the chemical bonds of the polymers converting them into their original carbon chain.
The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30p.m.) in the Belle Town Hall Gym, 1100 E Dupont Ave, Belle.
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