A financially troubled company is facing community opposition in Fayetteville, N.C., over its plan to convert plastic waste into diesel fuel using pyrolysis, a process that could release toxic PFAS into an area already burdened by contamination.
Lisa Sorg reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Waste Energy Corp. planned to process 7,000 tons of plastic annually in a low-income Fayetteville neighborhood but has shifted to seeking an industrial location.
- Pyrolysis, the proposed technology, operates at high temperatures but may not fully destroy PFAS, raising concerns about air and water pollution.
- The company has a history of financial struggles and pivoted from failed cryptocurrency and blockchain ventures to plastic-to-fuel conversion.
Key quote:
“This is very unwise in my observation.”
— Mike Watters, Fayetteville resident and environmental advocate
Why this matters:
Pyrolysis is marketed as a solution to plastic waste, but it extends reliance on fossil fuels and raises pollution concerns. Fayetteville is already dealing with PFAS contamination from industrial sources, and weak federal regulations leave communities vulnerable. The project’s shift to another location doesn’t eliminate risks, especially given the company’s unstable financial history. With only 9% of plastic recycled worldwide, the debate over viable solutions continues.
Related: From making it to managing it, plastic is a major contributor to climate change
