Renewi and Freepoint Eco-Systems International Ltd. (Freepoint Eco-Systems) have announced their plan to establish a long-term strategic partnership to generate feedstock for advanced recycling of waste plastics.

Source: Renewi

The collaboration aims to enhance the sorting and treatment infrastructure to divert end-of-life plastics from incineration. Their target is to supply 80,000 tonnes of feedstock for Freepoint Eco-Systems' inaugural European advanced recycling facility at the Kluizendok site in Ghent, Belgium. This partnership between two leading waste management and recycling companies addresses the increasing need for sustainable solutions for end-of-life plastics and the utilization of pyrolysis oil in creating recycled products.

An Innovative Collaboration Between Chemical and Waste Sectors

Earlier this year, Freepoint disclosed its plans for the primary advanced plastics recycling plant in Ghent. In the upcoming months, Renewi and Freepoint Eco-Systems will collaborate to establish the pre-processing infrastructure, enabling the supply of 80,000 tonnes of feedstock for the plant. Advanced recycling through pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process that involves heating existing plastic materials without oxygen to break them down into smaller molecules for raw material use. Freepoint Eco-Systems' advanced recycling facility will enable the recycling of complex, mixed plastics that are challenging to process through other methods, complementing mechanical recycling.

The partnership between Renewi and Freepoint Eco-Systems is a significant advancement in waste management and a substantial contribution to Europe's circular economy. This collaboration will bridge the gap between waste and products, aligning with environmental commitments such as the Green Deal and increasing requirements for recycled content in new products.

By diverting end-of-life plastics from incineration, this advanced recycling initiative is projected to reduce CO2 emissions significantly and decrease the dependency on fossil resources for new product manufacturing. It will create value for local and global circular economies, from waste material extraction to final product stages.

Establishment of a New Sorting Line

Freepoint Eco-Systems and Renewi are exploring the creation and joint investment in a new sorting facility essential for producing the required 80,000 tonnes of feedstock for the advanced recycling plant. Leveraging its expertise, Renewi will utilize its advanced residual waste sorting line, operational for over a year, which has proven capable of producing high-quality feedstock for advanced recycling.

This new sorting line will incorporate innovative sorting techniques, including utilizing residual heat from the advanced recycling plant. This approach will transform various sources of end-of-life plastics into consistent, high-quality feedstock, facilitating their reintegration into the circular economy.