ZEBULON, N.C.—The unassuming building at 507 N. Industrial Drive, marked with “Braven Environmental,” seems ordinary from the street.
Recently, an internal alarm pierced the quiet. In the back, near a “Caution Respirators Required” sign, a smell of old oil emanated from concrete pits.
Metal parts protruded from barrels, while blackened machinery was left to rust nearby.
Braven Environmental, a New York company facing numerous hazardous waste violations, removed most of its equipment.
Previously hailed for chemical recycling of plastics, the plant now exemplifies environmentalists’ concerns over pyrolysis—a process criticized as ineffective for plastic waste management.
State records indicate hazardous waste mishandling, with concerns about benzene exposure. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will assess potential chemical contamination, officials say.
The company retains regulatory permits but appears inactive, according to agency staff.
Originally launched as Golden Renewable Energy in New York, co-founder Michael Moreno secured a permit for a biomass conversion facility to produce heating oil and diesel.
Braven then shifted focus to chemical recycling.
Operating at Triangle East Business Park from 2020 to 2025, Braven claimed to process 90% of plastics through pyrolysis, which heats waste in an oxygen-free setting.
Judith Enck, former EPA regional administrator, argues that Braven’s case weakens the argument for chemical recycling as a solution, noting the plant’s inactivity.
Mechanically recycling some plastics is possible, yet most are not recycled. Chemical recycling is promoted by fossil fuel companies as an alternative to incineration or landfilling.
The American Chemistry Council previously highlighted Braven’s efforts. In 2025, the group organized a plant visit for New York lawmakers during debates on reducing plastic packaging and boosting recycling efforts.
The associated policy does not classify chemical recycling as true recycling, and has stalled in the state Assembly.
Matthew Kastner, a council spokesperson, stated the advanced recycling sector is evolving, with some businesses thriving, others pivoting, and some closing.
Braven’s chosen recycling method, pyrolysis, breaks down plastics into chemical components, producing a pyrolysis oil often mixed with other fuels.
However, this process generates significant hazardous waste. In the U.S., fewer than a dozen facilities claim to recycle plastics this way. Braven’s closure follows a similar event at another Ohio plant.
Waste Energy planned a pyrolysis plant near Fayetteville, North Carolina, but abandoned it amid opposition; it has since relocated to Midland, Texas, but has not started production.
High Hazardous Waste Generation
Braven Environmental has violated numerous federal and state regulations since starting operations.
According to EPA records, the company is a “large quantity generator” of hazardous waste, producing significant benzene, a known carcinogen.
State inspections revealed consistent hazardous waste mishandling. Inspectors reported potential improper waste disposal and observed dark stains on rocks and soil.
The Intercept reported in 2023 on the company’s “significant noncompliance” with hazardous waste regulations.
In April, state officials issued a violation notice, alleging that Braven disposed of oils as hazardous waste due to unsold stock.
Company officials later admitted to DEQ inspectors about shipping containers of hazardous waste to an unauthorized warehouse, without proper documentation.
Regulators noted incomplete records on waste identification, affecting disposal processes.
Company representatives, including legal counsel and the plant manager, lacked details on hazardous waste quantities and shipment dates.
The company phone line now appears disconnected.
In March 2024, inspectors addressed the company’s contaminated soil assessment plan. Contractor sampling indicated arsenic and chromium levels above state standards.
Arsenic and hexavalent chromium, both carcinogens, pose health risks when inhaled or consumed.
DEQ officials expressed concern about benzene soil contamination, potentially from the plant’s oil-water separator.
A report indicated no soil impact evidence, although higher contaminant levels were found. DEQ required further testing for confirmation.
Raleigh denied Braven’s 2023 permit to discharge separator water into the sewer, following DEQ findings of improper petroleum storage.
May 2024 inspections found the site disorderly, with exposed tanks and drums, some damaged. Open petroleum drums and rainwater posed risks.
DEQ internal emails highlighted concerns about benzene handling and multiple agencies were “looking at Braven.”
An incident involved nearby landscape workers feeling ill, raising contamination suspicions.
In February 2025, an EPA agent observed water draining without rainfall, questioning potential runoff from Braven’s property.
In March, officials met with Braven representatives to discuss Texas facility plans, which were later canceled. Cleanup oversight was assigned to Kirk Claborn.
Regulators remained concerned about stormwater discharge, with benzene contamination risks. Braven’s request to discharge contaminated water was denied due to permit restrictions.
Braven ceased operations earlier in the year. A company executive informed regulators in May 2025 that the plant was idled indefinitely, focusing only on environmental and safety matters.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org