Swedish Plastic Recycling invests SEK1B in “world’s largest” plastic recycling plant

25 Sep 2023 --- Swedish Plastic Recycling is investing approximately SEK 1 billion (US$90 million) in building the world’s largest and most modern facility for plastic recycling, Site Zero, located in Motala, Sweden. The facility, which will reportedly open on November 15, will be able to recycle all plastic packaging from Swedish households and make plastics circular without emitting carbon.

With Site Zero Swedish Plastic Recycling says it is doubling its capacity to approximately 60,000 square meters and will process 200,000 metric tons of plastic packaging annually. Due to cutting-edge technology, it will be possible to recycle practically all types of plastic.  

Currently, the facility can manage four types of plastic, but in the future, Site Zero will sort and recycle twelve different types. This will include PP, high-density PE, low-density PE, PET tray, PET bottles (colored and transparent), PP film, polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, two grades of polyolefin mix, metal and non-plastic waste. 

Any small parts of plastic that remain after the sorting process are separated to be sent to chemical recycling or to become new composite products. At Site Zero, no packaging goes to incineration.

The facility is powered by renewable energy, and the plastic that cannot be recycled will be sent to energy recovery without causing emissions.The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) also contributes with a financing of over SEK 180 million (US$16 million) through the climate investment aid program Klimatklivet.

Climate-neutral recycling 
Swedish Plastic Recycling is preparing for washing and granulation of the plastic in phase two, which is planned for 2025. This move could enable the entire plastic flow in Sweden to become circular, asserts the company. 

Site Zero will be climate-neutral with zero emissions. The facility is powered by renewable energy, and the small amount of plastic and other waste that cannot be recycled will be sent to energy recovery without climate emissions, so-called carbon capture storage. 

There are also plans to produce renewable energy by covering the building’s large flat roof with solar panels.

The company first announced it would invest SEK 1 billion into what it said would be the world’s largest plastic recycling facility in 2021.

“The investment creates the prerequisites needed for making Sweden a world leader in plastic recycling,” said Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Swedish Plastic Recycling.

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim