East Liverpool Waste Incinerator Emissions Decline

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Government and facility officials reported that emissions exceedances at the East Liverpool hazardous waste incinerator, now known as Arcwood Environmental, reached new lows during the final quarter of 2025. The facility submitted a status report to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio showing it exceeded emission standards or operating limits nine times between October and December, a decrease from previous periods. Arcwood and the EPA noted that new equipment, including an $11 million waste shredder and soot blowers, have helped control pollution levels.

Why it matters

The East Liverpool incinerator has faced ongoing issues with emissions violations and legal oversight since 2018. The facility's progress in reducing exceedances is significant, as it could lead to the lifting of a court order and end to federal government oversight, though financial claims from past violations still need to be resolved.

The details

In early 2025, Arcwood Environmental installed a new $11 million waste shredder and a system of soot blowers to help control pollution levels at the East Liverpool hazardous waste incinerator. The shredder breaks down containers to allow for more consistent burning, while the soot blowers prevent buildup inside the furnace that can cause pressure spikes. These upgrades have contributed to a decline in emissions exceedances at the facility.

• The facility submitted a status report to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio covering the final quarter of 2025.
• Between October and December 2025, the incinerator exceeded emission standards or operating limits 9 times, a decrease from previous periods earlier in the year.

What’s next

The federal government and Arcwood remain in negotiations over unpaid penalties for alleged violations that occurred between July 2022 and the end of 2024. The two sides met in February to discuss a path toward ending the legal oversight, which will depend on resolving these financial claims.