Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool is welcoming a new piece of equipment.

The facility invested in a shredder they say will be more efficient and safer for employees. But with a long history of community concerns, how will it impact air quality?

When asked if the shredder gives more safety to those living in the area, a representative of Heritage Environmental Services responded by pointing out that the facility was heavily regulated.

Here is the statement by Heritage:

The facility is among the most heavily regulated facilities in the country and operates in accordance with its various permits, the limits for which are set at levels well below what the governing regulatory agencies consider to be safe, ensuring the safety of those living in the area . Operation of the shredder directly provides an additional safety benefit to employees at the facility who work in the feed area of the plant.” 


The representative also explained how the shredder is more efficient:

“The shredder will operate to more effectively homogenize feed material being processed at the facility.  While the facility operates in compliance with its air permit, the shredder is expected to benefit the efficient operation of the process.”


Vice President of the Save Our County group Becky Ammon has been speaking out against the incinerating facility for years. She worries efficiency doesn't equate to safety. 

In fact, Ammon said more efficient means the ability to burn more hazardous waste, which ultimately, gets released into the air.

Ammon said items like barrels that contained hazardous waste used to be shipped to another facility. Now, they can be destroyed with the shredder.

The company did not address their concerns directly, instead pointed out they are not violating any laws. 

Heritage Thermal Services has received multiple EPA violations over the years. The most recent one was in December. 

The company has always made adjustments in response.