PureCycle Technologies, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, intends to build its first polypropylene (PP) recycling facility in the fast-growing NextGen District in Belgium’s port of Antwerp-Bruges.

The new plant will have an initial annual capacity of 59,000 metric tons, with opportunities to expand operations in the future since the 14-hectare plot can support up to four processing lines with an anticipated total capacity of approximately 240,000 metric tons per year.

The company is currently engaged in feedstock sourcing and financial planning with the intention of securing a final project timeline by mid-2023. Construction of the plant is expected to begin upon completion of the permitting process, which is currently anticipated in 2024. 

The Antwerp-Bruges NextGen District is a global hub for businesses seeking to advance the circular economy and PureCycle was recently awarded a concessionaire contract during its competitive bid selection process.

“We are excited to bring our ultra-pure recycled (UPR) resin to customers in Europe, where companies and policies are at the forefront of the circular economy,” said PureCycle vice president of European operations Wiebe Schipper. “Being in the NextGen District will enable us to capitalise on existing efficiencies, collaborate with other innovators in the space and forge new partnerships. We want to thank the Port of Antwerp-Bruges for believing in our mission and for providing the support necessary to get this project off the ground.”

PureCycle is already in active negotiations with potential feedstock and offtake partners and expects to commence commercial operations at its new European facility when construction of the first processing line is completed. The new PP purification plant is expected to create 65-70 new jobs for local residents during the initial phase of the project.

 “PureCycle selected Flanders as the preferred location within the EU confirming that it is among the world leaders in waste collection and processing,” said Jan Jambon, Minister-President of Flanders. “PureCycle’s purification technology is a game changer for the circular economy and will have a major impact on making plastics more sustainable.”

With the company’s flagship recycling plant in Ironton, Ohio expected to start pellet production in the first quarter of 2023, a second plant in Augusta, Georgia, under initial construction and its first PP recycling plant in Asia currently on track to open in 2025, PureCycle is expanding globally and actively scaling its production capabilities.

The company holds a global licence for the only patented solvent-driven purification recycling technology, developed by Procter & Gamble (P&G),  designed to transform polypropylene plastic waste into a continuously renewable resource. The unique purification process removes colour, odour and other impurities from this waste, resulting in the UPR that can be recycled and reused multiple times.

www.purecycle.com