Proposed plastics plant drops plans for Sugarloaf facility

BLACK RIDGE – Plans for a plastics plant in the Hazleton area have been called off.

Alterra Energy, an Ohio-based company, had been planning to build a plastics recycling plant on a parcel off the Tomhicken Road in Sugarloaf Township, near Route 93.

A community effort to oppose the plant had been trying to muster support from municipal leaders to oppose the plant, including at East Union Township supervisors, where a resident raised potential concerns to Sheppton and Oneida, which are both about seven miles upwind from the plant.

In a letter to Sugarloaf Township Supervisors dated August 8, Alterra said they are no longer pursuing development of the Sugarloaf Township property as they would have had to buy the property. They told supervisors they only wanted to lease the property.

Environmental advocates who opposed the plant say the plant would have “trucked in substantial amounts of plastic trash for high-heat processing.”

“The people of Sugarloaf and surrounding areas are elated that Alterra energy has officially decided to withdraw their state DEP permit for their proposed plastic facility from 42 Tomhicken Road. This is a big win for our area,” Annie Vinatieri, a local community leader and member of Luzerne County Community Action Coalition, said in a media release. “The people have spoken and our voices have been heard. We will continue to fight for clean air, water and a safer, healthier future for Luzerne County.”

“This local effort in Sugarloaf is proof that communities can reject false solutions and fight for the sustainable, waste-free future we deserve. These companies sometimes look for new locations after abandoning site proposals, so it’s important that other Pennsylvania towns are prepared to fight these proposals when they show up in other places,” said Jess Conard, Beyond Plastics’ Appalachia director. “So-called ‘chemical recycling’ is nothing more than greenwashing for the plastics industry. It doesn’t solve the plastic waste problem; it just turns plastic trash into toxic emissions and fuels we don’t need.”

Beyond Plastics is a group that says they “seek to educate on the plastic pollution crisis” and “encourage businesses to eliminate single-use plastics.”

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