Westlake Vinyls plans to start construction by August 2027 on two new furnaces that will burn hazardous leftovers from the production of plastics in Geismar but also boost air pollution in Ascension Parish’s Mississippi River corridor.
The company recently received key state permits and a conclusion from Louisiana environmental officials that the region doesn’t have an air pollution “crisis.”
The incineration units will recycle energy and hydrochloric acid as they destroy the hazardous leftovers of ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer production, known as “heavy ends,” with an efficiency Westlake says is better than 99.99% and also offer a redundant route to destroy other plant emissions…