A company based in the Bay Area is dedicated to recycling plastic materials; however, due to its location close to a school, some local residents have expressed worries, prompting the company to host an open house for the community.
Resynergi co-founder Brian Bauer stated that the technology, initially created in his garage, is now capable of recycling the large amounts of plastic stored at the facility.
"This is non-dangerous medical waste, such as the blanket you might receive before seeing your doctor," said Bauer.
These are the types of plastic, such as garbage bags, which Bauer claims can be "recycled" through its proprietary method known as Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis.
"Heating in the absence of oxygen means there's no combustion or burning. It breaks down the molecules into shorter chains, producing a gas. When this gas enters a cooler, it transforms into a liquid. This liquid is similar to crude oil," explained Bauer.
Resynergi states that this method lowers carbon emissions by 68% in comparison to traditional plastic manufacturing.
"They take the raw crude oil, we sell it to petrochemical companies, and they produce new plastic," said Bauer.
Bauer mentioned that emissions from their recycling "units" are similar to those of a semi-truck. Resynergi is hosting an open-house event, allowing residents of Rohnert Park to visit the site. Several nearby residents remain doubtful, worried about the risk of explosions and fires, or pollution of the air and soil.
"There are many families living in Rohnert Park, and there is a high school in the area. I simply don't want any information to be disclosed," said Rohnert Park resident Martha Louvar.
Some individuals are more receptive provided rigorous air quality checks are conducted, recognizing the challenge in comprehending the complexities of chemical recycling.
"People are worried because we don't comprehend it, and it goes beyond our usual understanding, leading to typical fears. It's natural to feel scared and for people to be afraid. However, to find a solution, I believe it's worth trying anything," said Katie Kuruliak, a resident of Rohnert Park.
Justin Flake resides in the local area and is a parent of a student attending Credo High School, which is located approximately 500 feet away from the Resynergi facility. Flake is among roughly 5,000 individuals who signed a petition urging Resynergi to cease its activities.
"We don't wish to be test subjects. We are unaware of the reason it has to be located right in the heart of a residential area," stated Flake.
City Council member Susan Adams stated that brochures distributed to households and social media posts featuring images of factory smokestacks are deceiving the public.
"No black smoke is visible from any location. I reside in this neighborhood. I was brought up here. If they were harming the environment at this store, I would be among the first to oppose them," said Adams.
Bauer is anticipating a permit from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District that would enable Resynergi to run its reactors five times daily, bringing the company nearer to its long-term objective of nationwide growth and increasing plastic recycling efficiency.
A 30-day period for public feedback was originally set to conclude on August 18.
The Air Quality Management District for the Bay Area has pushed the deadline back to October 3. Resynergi mentioned that it intends to begin operations shortly after air quality officials approve a permit.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District did not grant an interview request but released the following statement, which included, "We are dedicated to receiving input from the community regarding this project. Should the Air District approve the suggested permit after the comment period ends, the project will then be required to follow all the conditions specified in the permit."
Any permit granted would feature binding conditions to ensure the facility functions in accordance with all relevant air quality standards and safeguards public health. The Air District consistently inspects and oversees facilities across the Bay Area to confirm adherence to air quality regulations.