The company scrapped plans to build a $1.1B plastics recycling plant in central Pennsylvania.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comments from project opponents.

Northumberland Plans for a $1.1 billion factory in Northumberland next to the northern branch of the Susuqheanna River that would turn waste plastic material into feedstock for new products have been scrapped.

Encina Development Group said in a news release Thursday that it will pursue projects currently under review or development in the United States, Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia.

Save Our Susquehanna, a group of local residents concerned about the health and environmental impacts of plastic processing facilities, writes in large letters on their website: “Our Community Wins.”

Save Our Susquehanna spokesperson Sandy Field said the project threatens the region’s clean air and water and will harm our way of life in the region, especially those who live near the proposed facility. for people.

Alex Bromstein, executive director of the Clean Air Council, said this is important to the residents of Northumberland County, the 6 million people who use the Susquehanna River for drinking water, and all those who have a clean air constitution. It’s a huge win for Pennsylvania’s rightful people.

But County Commission Chairman Sam Schiccatano said the plant would bring a loss of tax revenue and jobs.

That’s disappointing, he said.

Robert Garrett, president and CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the decision was neither inspiring nor surprising.

‘My understanding is that Encina has had issues with regulators from the township to the federal government,’ he said.

Northumberland Borough Council recently spoke out against the project, citing potential toxic emissions risks.

Last October, Encina withdrew its application for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit after receiving a second technical deficiency letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Encina Director of Government Relations and Compliance Michael Marr claimed at the time that it was not uncommon for applications to be withdrawn and resubmitted during the permitting process on a project of this size.

Encina announced in 2022 that it would build a state-of-the-art facility on a 105-acre industrial, rail-served site along Route 11 in Point Twp., seven miles outside Northumberland County. to Danville.

The Point Township recycling manufacturing facility is expected to create 300 jobs with an average annual salary of $75,000, according to the company.

It is said that the plant will use proven technology to process 450,000 tons of recycled plastic materials per year that would otherwise be sent to landfills or incinerators.

Community reaction to the proposed plant has been mixed. Signs for and against were clearly visible in the yard. Garrett said the opposition is well-informed, engaged and passionate.

In announcing the decision not to move forward in Northumberland County, Encina CEO Dave Roesser cited projects elsewhere.

He said company research shows these projects offer Encina the opportunity to meet customer demand at the scale expected.

The demand for these products requires our company to re-evaluate our engineering to meet these larger end-product goals of our customers, Roesser said.

Ultimately, our facilities must meet these increased demands, and therefore, after careful consideration and thorough analysis, the Encinas management team has decided not to proceed with construction of the recycling manufacturing facility in Point Twp., Pa., but will continue to establish markets among our other customers .

He added: “While we are excited about the many attractive expansion and growth opportunities in Point Twp., we have determined that our current strategic goals and long-term goals will be better achieved through this decision.”