Xycle has said it will commence construction of a plastic recycling plant in the Port of Rotterdam by the end of 2022.
The facility will convert 20,000 tons of non-mechanically recyclable plastic into not high-quality sustainable raw materials annually.
The Rotterdam Port Authority has leased a site at Rijndwarsweg in Europoort to Xycle for the development of the plant.
The joint venture between NoWit, Patpert Teknow Systems, and Vopak has been working on a technique for converting recyclable plastic into secondary raw materials through chemical recycling for 14 years.
The process includes heating mixed plastic without adding oxygen. It does not burn but disintegrates and can be used again as a raw material.
The organisation expects to receive environmental and building permits in Q3 2022, construction of the plant can then begin in Q4 2022. The facility is predicted to be operational by Q4 2023.
“We’re very pleased with this milestone for Xycle and proud that Vopak is contributing to this. Developing new infrastructure solutions and setting up new supply chains in partnership is essential in the energy transition,” said Marcel van de Kar, Global Director New Energies Vopak.
Allard Castelein, CEO Rotterdam Port Authority, added: “Xycle setting up business in the port of Rotterdam fits in seamlessly with our strategy to help existing companies become more sustainable and to attract these kinds of new, circular companies.”
Looking to the future, Xycle aims to operate several plants across the world with a capacity of 80,000 to 100,000 tons per year.
Earlier this month, battery and electronic waste recycling experts TES announced its plans to build a new factory in the Port of Rotterdam.
The facility will be the first plant in the Netherlands for recycling lithium-ion batteries.
As the number of electric vehicles grows exponentially, there will be a huge supply of batteries that need to be recycled.
