Youngstown enacts pyrolysis moratorium to block chemical recycling project

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio—No pyrolysis, gasification or combustion of plastics, tires and electronic waste can go ahead in the city of Youngstown for a 12-month period.

The city council unanimously voted for the moratorium on Dec. 20. It applies to facilities that aim to convert plastics, tires or electronics into fuel or feedstock for other products. The mayor of Youngstown signed the ordinance on Dec. 26.

The move puts a wrench in the works of Sobe Thermal Energy Systems. In June 2023, the local utility received a draft air pollution permit to install and operate a pyrolysis plant which would have processed 88 tons of tire chips a day. The process output, syngas, would have been used to power existing natural gas boilers in various buildings in downtown Youngstown, according to the draft permit. The same document notes that the pyrolysis unit is equipped with two gas cleaning units, and that carbon black and carbon steel are byproducts of the process.

The project received opposition from the Youngstown city council from the start. In September 2023, the council approved a resolution opposing the chemical recycling plant. Now, the moratorium effectively blocks the project for a year and sets precedent for further impediments spearheaded by community opposition.

Speaking after the Dec. 20 vote, Tom Hetrick, Youngstown’s city council president, said that “the safety and environmental risks of waste pyrolysis are particularly troubling, and the facility’s proposed location adjacent to our downtown and vulnerable neighborhoods is not in alignment with our city’s comprehensive plan.”

The facility's proposed location, Sobe's Youngstown steam plant, is adjacent to a neighborhood of predominantly Black residents. It is also next to jail and a Youngstown State University dormitory.

The CEO of Sobe, David M. Ferro, has recently acknowledged the vote, referring to the moratorium as an opportunity for the council to “further study our proposed technology.”

“Sobe respects this cautious approach and is committed to working closely with city officials and community members,” Ferro said. “Our goal is to foster understanding of the technology’s safety and its environmental benefits. We assure you that our operations will continue uninterrupted during this period. The moratorium does not affect our current method of converting natural gas to steam, ensuring that our steam services remain consistent and reliable. Sobe’s facility in Youngstown is dedicated to energy conversion and is not classified as an industrial facility. 

“We are a part of the community, focused on enhancing the quality of life and economic stability in Youngstown through sustainable energy practices. We invite open dialogue and are here to address any concerns or questions from our fellow citizens and businesses. Together, we can pave the way for a greener, more prosperous Youngstown,” he concluded.

Opposition to the project comes amid a report by Beyond Plastics claiming that chemical recycling is not a viable solution.

The report notes there are now 11 chemical recycling facilities in the United States. Jennifer Congdon, deputy director of Beyond Plastics and one of the contributors to the report, said those facilities are handling an "insignificant amount of plastics waste" and that many are "struggling to create a profitable product."

"Relying on chemical recycling to process plastic waste is an unreliable and polluting approach to solve the growing problem of plastic pollution," Congdon said.

In response, the American Chemistry Council said Beyond Plastics was spreading false information about chemical recycling.

“Many proven chemical recycling technologies are in use today, remaking new plastics from used plastics,” said Ross Eisenberg of the ACC. “Recently, the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory found chemical recycling significantly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water use compared to virgin plastics production.”