Company decides not to rebuild chlorine plant with history of fires, explosions and toxic clouds
In a statement, BioLab Inc. said it has been unable to resume manufacturing operations in Conyers after the most recent catastrophe on Sept. 29.
'After taking steps to meet customer needs through alternative production, and in considering our future business needs carefully, we have made the difficult decision not to restart manufacturing at the Conyers plant,' it said.
Though manufacturing won't restart, the company's Conyers distribution center will remain operational and fill customer orders for products from other manufacturing facilities, BioLab said.
'We take our role in Conyers very seriously, and as we move forward, the safety and wellbeing of the Conyers community remain a top priority.'
The September fire sent a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the Georgia sky, forcing nearby residents to shelter in place, leading to classes canceled for schoolchildren and the closure of a major interstate.
Last month, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released an update on its investigation. The company improperly stored hazardous chemicals, federal authorities said. BioLab was cited for six violations, including four serious ones, and more than $60,000 in proposed penalties, the U.S. Department of Labor said.
BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and hot tubs. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products.
Its Conyers plant is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of downtown Atlanta.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
InventHelp Inventor Develops Effective Shark Repellent (SBT-2039)
PITTSBURGH, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a way to protect individuals who engage in water sports in the ocean from shark attacks," said an inventor, from Soquel, Calif., "so I invented THE ORCA. My design increases safety and it would not hinder your movements while swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving." The patent-pending invention provides an effective shark repellent for ocean-sports enthusiasts. In doing so, it would prompt sharks in the vicinity to vacate the area. As a result, it increases safety, and it helps reduce the risk of shark attacks. The invention features a compact design that is easy to use so it is ideal for surfers and other ocean/water-sports enthusiasts. The original design was submitted to the San Diego sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 24-SBT-2039, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE InventHelp Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trella Health Releases 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report Highlighting Continued Medicare Advantage Growth and Shifts in Care Utilization
New annual report reveals national and state-level trends across home health, hospice, and skilled nursing. ATLANTA, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trella Health, the leading provider of market intelligence and integrated customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for post-acute care, HME, and Infusion organization, has released its 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report, offering a detailed analysis of national and state-level patient trends, utilization patterns, and market dynamics across home health, hospice, and skilled nursing. The report, rooted in Trella Health's unmatched access to the most current Medicare Part A and B claims data and Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and admissions patterns, provides essential insights for post-acute care organizations navigating today's complex post-acute care landscape. "At Trella Health, we believe better data leads to better healthcare," said Scott Tapp, CEO at Trella Health. "This year's report reinforces our commitment to delivering clarity through trusted, comprehensive insights — empowering better decision-making and stronger outcomes across the care continuum." Key Insights from the 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report: Medicare Advantage (MA) continues to reshape the Medicare landscape: As of February 2025, 55.4% of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, with 30 states now above 50% penetration. PPO enrollment growth signals potential headwinds for home health: Between 2023 and 2024, enrollment in Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans — which typically utilize home health services at lower rates than Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans — rose 19.8%, while HMO enrollment grew by just 4.3%. Adherence drives value-based outcomes: In 2024 Q3, patients who adhered to home health discharge instructions had a 30-day readmission rate of 12.7%, compared to 15.1% for those who did not — a 2.4-point gap that underscores the impact of timely, appropriate care transitions. Home health's share of FFS inpatient discharges rose for the first time since 2020: In 2024 Q4, 22.6% of inpatient discharges included a home health referral — up from 22.1% the year prior and the first rise since 2020. Hospice admissions see strongest growth since the pandemic: Total admissions rose 3.7% between 2023 (1.55M) and 2024 (1.61M), with over 50% of Medicare mortalities now occurring on hospice. State-by-state variation in utilization remains stark: Home health FFS utilization ranges by 25.1 percentage points across states, while skilled nursing varies by 22.6 points— highlighting persistent disparities in discharge practices and access to post-acute care. The report also examines emerging policy developments — including the proposed TEAM model — and explores how providers are responding to ongoing challenges in staffing, reimbursement, and the shift toward value-based care. As the post-acute care landscape continues to evolve, Trella Health is committed to providing the intelligence and tools that healthcare organizations need to navigate change with confidence. The 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report reflects our ongoing dedication to supporting strategic decision-making, fostering innovation, and driving better outcomes across the entire continuum of care. The full report is now available here. About Trella HealthTrella Health's unmatched market intelligence and purpose-built CRM allow post-acute providers, HME, and Infusion organizations to drive more effective performance and growth. Trella's solutions allow post-acute, HME, and Infusion organizations to identify the highest-potential referral targets, evaluate new market opportunities, and monitor performance metrics. Paired with CRM and EHR integrations, business development teams can better manage referral relationships to advance their organizations with certainty by improving their sales and marketing strategy. For more information on Trella Health and its post-acute, HME, and Infusion growth solutions, visit or follow Trella Health on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Chandani Patel, press@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Trella Health Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fast Company
3 hours ago
- Fast Company
Fresh, local, and predictable: How 'indoor' farms are solving food's biggest problems
Inside an eight-acre greenhouse on the outskirts of Macon, Georgia, more than eight million pounds of lettuce are harvested annually, untouched by external weather conditions, pesticides, or even human hands. The produce picked and packaged here is then shipped directly to regional retailers and food banks, skipping multiple links in the typical salad's supply chain. This facility joins a network of a half-dozen other greenhouses strategically placed around the country by BrightFarms, a pioneer in 'controlled environment agriculture.' Together, they offer a blueprint for a more resilient, nutritious, and delicious food chain that looks more like just-in-time manufacturing than traditional farming. That's because the average American's food pyramid has never felt more wobbly. Farmers lost $20.3 billion to weather disasters last year, nearly half of which was uninsured. With fresh produce concentrated in California and buttressed by foreign imports during the winters, the nation's stomach travels on long-haul trucks consuming fuel, belching emissions, and stretching the time between harvest and consumption, which in turn leads to lettuce with a shorter shelf life. BrightFarms' localized greenhouses, once dismissed as a niche product for affluent urbanites, have spent the past decade refining their techniques and scaling production to close the cost gap with conventional farming. Now they're starting to pull ahead. 'Indoor-grown salads represent 6% of an $8 billion category, but account for 100% of the growth,' notes Abby Prior, chief commercial officer of Cox Farms, BrightFarms' parent company. Most produce is at its highest nutritional value the moment it's harvested. The faster we get it to consumers, the healthier it is for them.' Abby Prior, Cox Farms This switch delivers produce that is fresher, safer, and more reliable—traits that are especially meaningful to cash-strapped consumers. The unstoppable rise in food prices during the past few years has caused many to re-evaluate their household and caloric budgets. Fresh produce needs flavor, visual appeal, and importantly, the shelf life to compete with hyper-processed foods that busy consumers often choose for convenience. If produce can last longer, the likelihood increases that it will be used and not go to waste. Combined with the added ease of not needing to be washed, greenhouse-grown produce provides much-needed value and convenience. Only 1 in 10 Americans regularly eats the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables—a shocking statistic skewed further by income and demographics. To that end, BrightFarms has partnered with Feeding America to donate millions of pounds of excess product to their network of more than 200 food banks, including the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, which the Macon facility serves. 'It's probably the only fresh greens we have right now,' says Kathy McCollum, the organization's president and CEO. This is how you transform American diets: one salad at a time. AUTOMATION FROM SEED TO STORE BrightFarms' regional greenhouse model represents a radical departure from transcontinental supply chains. Acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2021, the firm harnessed its parent's resources to open new hubs in Illinois, Texas, and Georgia last year, with additional expansion plans that will eventually triple its annual production to 150 million pounds of leafy greens and bring two-thirds of the country within reach. This not only produces steady, year-round harvests, but also deliveries in as little as 24 hours, cutting more than a week from typical farm-to-fork timetables while significantly lowering transportation time and emissions. These vertically-integrated facilities also leverage automation from seed to store, all but eliminating contamination risks inherent in today's agriculture. When foodborne illnesses strike conventional farms, 'you see entire shelves—all brands, all locations—being pulled because it's impossible to tell where the problem came from,' Prior explains. By contrast, BrightFarms' closed-loop system offers complete traceability while ensuring delivery at the height of freshness. 'Most produce is at its highest nutritional value the moment it's harvested,' Prior adds. 'The faster we get it to consumers, the healthier it is for them.' This means its donations to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank arrive in peak condition rather than wilted remnants. And instead of being packaged as bulk shipments, BrightFarms' lettuce lands in the food bank's warehouse as ready-to-eat individual portions, helping to nudge families toward choosing greens for dinner. 'If we have that available so it becomes a regular part of their children's diets, that generation could be much healthier than they would have otherwise been,' McCollum says. RESTORING AG TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES Beyond feeding the communities it serves, BrightFarms' greenhouses are also catalyzing revitalization. The Macon facility will employ 250 workers at full capacity, offering technical and engineering career paths unimaginable to previous generations of local farmers. 'We're able to bring agriculture back to the communities that lost it,' Prior says. Rather than relying on low-wage laborers a continent or two away, the greenhouse model promises new pathways to participate in local production and recirculate dollars as well as nutrients. BrightFarms' lettuce is just the beginning of a greenhouse-led restocking of America's produce sections. Prior envisions a future in which tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers—crops already 80% greenhouse-grown globally—join leafy greens in regional growing facilities, creating a distributed network of agricultural infrastructure as reliable as the electrical grid. This evolution promises to fundamentally alter both what appears on American plates and who grows it. Shorter supply chains mean fresher, longer-lasting produce that retains more vitamins. Predictable harvests enable health and wellness programs to prescribe vegetables as preventative medicine. Stable pricing makes healthy eating more accessible across income levels. As the time from farm-to-fork shrinks from days to hours, it's worth noting that the healthiest communities are those that feed themselves.
