Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene – Emissions Trend
Sulphur, LA · 2019–2023 · Parent: Westlake Chemical Corp
This page assembles 5 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene, spanning 2019–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.
Reported releases opened at 207.2K in 2019 and closed at 213.4K in 2023 – a flat trend of 3.0% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Ethylene at 493.8K, followed by Propylene at 251.1K.
Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this chemicals facility.
Annual disclosure change
What changed: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
- Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene's total reported releases rose from 188.3 thousand lb in 2022 to 213.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene's water releases rose from 187 lb in 2022 to 1.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene's off-site transfers rose from 28 lb in 2022 to 38 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene's air releases rose from 188.1 thousand lb in 2022 to 211.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Total Releases by Category
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Year | Total | Chemicals | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 207.2K lbs | 22 | - |
| 2020 | 189.9K lbs | 22 | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 212.8K lbs | 22 | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 188.3K lbs | 22 | -11.5% |
| 2023 | 213.4K lbs | 22 | +13.3% |
Top Chemicals by Year
| Chemical | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylene | 93.1K | 91.7K | 108.7K | 95.3K | 105.0K | 493.8K |
| Propylene | 61.4K | 52.7K | 55.6K | 42.1K | 39.3K | 251.1K |
| Benzene | 9.3K | 8.9K | 9.9K | 10.0K | 13.7K | 51.8K |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 9.2K | 7.9K | 9.1K | 9.0K | 8.2K | 43.5K |
| Ammonia | 8.4K | 8.2K | 1.2K | 10.6K | 13.9K | 42.2K |
| Styrene | 8.1K | 7.5K | 7.4K | 7.0K | 8.2K | 38.2K |
| Ethylbenzene | 8.2K | 7.3K | 8.9K | 6.0K | 6.6K | 37.1K |
| Toluene | 5.3K | 3.7K | 4.3K | 4.0K | 5.7K | 23.0K |
| n-Hexane | 1.3K | 175 | 5.7K | 2.5K | 10.4K | 20.1K |
| Xylene (mixed isomers) | 1.7K | 713 | 812 | 885 | 1.3K | 5.4K |
| Maleic anhydride | 471 | 490 | 470 | 471 | 471 | 2.4K |
| Naphthalene | 205 | 185 | 201 | 206 | 239 | 1.0K |
| Methyl tert-butyl ether | 234 | 270 | 270 | 11 | 232 | 1.0K |
| Chlorine | 131 | 131 | 71 | 71 | 78 | 482 |
| 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene | 46 | 50 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 233 |
About This Data
Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.
A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westlake Petrochemicals Ethylene getting cleaner or dirtier? ▼
What time period does this trend data cover? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.