While regulators catch them venting gas for 60 hours straight, the company pushes "chemical recycling" pilot with East Palestine chemical.

HEBRON, OH — In case you missed it, the Buckeye Environmental Network is exposing a critical public health failure in Licking County. Freepoint Eco-Systems has been slapped with its third air permit violation in a single year by the Ohio EPA.

While this company quietly admitted to illegally venting volatile chemicals 79 times, they are simultaneously seeking to expand their facility to "recycle" PVC—a process involving the same toxic chemical behind the East Palestine disaster.

THE FACTS MEDIA OUTLETS ARE MISSING:

1. A 60-Hour Chemical Release This wasn't a minor leak. Between February and June 2025, Freepoint bypassed their mandatory vapor combustors 79 separate times.

• One single event lasted 59 hours—nearly two and a half days of continuous, unpermitted venting to an open flare.

• This is the third time in 12 months they've been cited (previous violations were for excessive particulate matter).

2. The PVC/East Palestine Connection Despite their inability to manage current emissions, Freepoint is pushing a pilot project to "chemically recycle" Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) using tech from Israeli company Plastic Back.

• The Risk: PVC is made with vinyl chloride—the exact carcinogen released during the East Palestine train derailment.

• The Funders: This reckless experiment is being bankrolled by the Vinyl Institute, the trade association for the very industry flooding our world with plastic.

3. The Shell Oil Pipeline Freepoint isn't just a local bad actor; they are a cog in the Big Oil machine. All pyrolysis oil produced at this Hebron plant is sold directly to Shell for use in refining complexes in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. This isn't recycling; it's a fossil fuel life-support system.

4. Targeting the Most Vulnerable Freepoint’s illegal releases of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) create ground-level ozone.

• Data Point: 6% of the population living within 3 miles of this plant is under the age of 5. These children are legally the most vulnerable to ozone-induced lung damage, and Freepoint is operating in their backyard without playing by the rules.

QUOTE: "We see this for what it is: A company failing basic environmental compliance while simultaneously trying to push a toxic expansion project funded by plastic lobbyists. Freepoint is a threat to public health, period." — Buckeye Environmental Network

The Bottom Line: We are calling for an immediate halt to any expansion permits. If Freepoint can't follow the rules for their current feedstock, they have no business handling PVC.

Read the full breakdown and see the violation notice: https://benohio.org/freepoint-eco-systems-pyrolysis-plant-violation/

We are a grassroots coalition fighting for environmental justice and public health in Ohio. We expose the false promises of the petrochemical industry and stand with communities against toxic exploitation.