By Jeremy Carroll
STAFF REPORTER
Published: November 4, 2013 2:45 pm ET
Updated: November 4, 2013 2:47 pm ET
A manufacturer of food-grade polystyrene foam containers has agreed to pay a $192,000 fine for alleged air emission violations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Ecopax LLC “failed to properly monitor and control air emissions from May 2008 through May 2011.” The company agreed to pay the fine and sign a consent agreement.
Ecopax’s facility is in Forks Township, Pa., approximately 80 miles north Philadelphia.
“Violations like this add to the overall breakdown of adequate air quality control measures,” said Mike Bedrin, director of DEP’s regional office in Wilkes-Barre, in a statement. “A company must make sure that all equipment is operating efficiently in order to reduce pollution.”
After a review of records from the company, DEP said Ecopax violated the conditions of its air permit by “failing to maintain the minimum operating temperature of a regenerative thermal oxidizer which is used to control air pollution.”
The regenerative thermal oxidizer was also not working correctly during an inspection in 2008, the agency said. The regenerative thermal oxidizer was in “off mode” while the manufacturing was in process, the DEP said.
An inspection in September of 2011 showed the regenerative thermal oxidizer was working normally and Ecopax was in compliance of emission limits.
Started in 2007, the company sells a variety of PS foam products, including plates and containers for take-home containers. | 
