2024 Global Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Purpose: To document the number and capacity of chemical recycling plants that are operating or have been constructed to process plastic waste into new plastic feedstock and compare to the global generation of plastic waste (per OECD 2024 data).
Summary: The global capacity of all 16 operating and constructed chemical recycling plants is about 0.13% of global plastic waste produced. Operating and constructed chemical recycling plants were only identified in the U.S., EU, and U.K. No plants were identified in other countries or regions.
Why: The plastics and products industries are promoting chemical recycling as a viable solution to plastic waste and pollution. Technical difficulties, along with extremely unfavorable economics compared to production of new plastics, stopped development on chemical recycling projects fifty years ago. The same technical difficulties and unfavorable economics are also insurmountable barriers to chemical recycling of plastic waste to make new plastic today and will continue to be in the future.
Last Updated: October 12, 2024
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U.S. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Name
State
Feedstock
Technology
Status
Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)
Notes
Constructed, no proof of commercial operation
Operating at reduced production rate
Lux Research reports that “Nexus Circular has only produced a measly 1,700 tonne of pyrolysis oil after three years of starting operations.” That’s equivalent to 16% of design capacity.
Constructed & in commissioning phase. No proof of commercial sales.
Chemical Recycling Plant Capacity to Process U.S. Plastic Waste:
0.43%
EU & U.K. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Name
Country
Feedstock
Technology
Status
Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)
Notes
Olefins (PE & PP)
Pyrolysis
Constructed, no proof of commercial operation
Olefins (PE, PS & PP)
Pyrolysis
Constructed, no proof of commercial operation
Olefins (PE & PP)
Pyrolysis
Constructed, no proof of commercial operation
Olefins (PE & PP)
Pyrolysis
Constructed, no proof of commercial operation
Chemical Recycling Plant Capacity to Process EU & U.K. Plastic Waste:
0.27%
Information Welcomed: Companies are welcomed to send new information about operating or constructed plants. Please include a link to public data source proving commercial operation or construction completion. Send to: lastbeachcleanup@gmail.com