As part of a planned $1.2 billion expansion of chemical facility in East Texas, Eastman Chemical has filed for a permit to reprocess plastics.
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On Sept. 6, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced that Eastman Chemical applied for permits to build a plant to process used plastic at its Longview Operations site about two hours east of Dallas.

The new plant would break down plastic waste using a process called methanolysis, which uses high heat and pressure to convert polyester-based plastics into their basic components. These can then be used to make new polyesters.

TCEQ is currently accepting comments on the pending permit application. See the public notice for more information.

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