US PP recycler PureCycle to reach 1 billion lb/year capacity by 2030

HOUSTON (ICIS)–PureCycle plans to reach 1 billion lb/year (454,000 tonnes/year) of capacity in the US by 2030, Europe and Asia, the US-base recycler of polypropylene (PP) said on Tuesday.

As part of that push, PureCycle has started a partnership with IRPC Public Co Limited, under which PureCycle will build a 130 million lb/year line at IRPC’s complex in Rayong, Thailand. IRPC is a subsidiary of PTT.

Construction should start in the second half of 2025, PureCycle said. The line should become operational in mid-2027.

PureCycle will hold a 100% equity position, and IRPC will retain rights for 10% of the plant’s production.

PureCycle has plans to build another 130 million lb/year plant in Antwerp, Belgium. It expects to receive final permits in 2026. The plant in Antwerp should become operational in 2028.

PureCycle expects to begin construction on a Gen 2 facility in Augusta, Georgia, US, in mid-2026. The facility’s pre-processing (PreP) unit should be operational in mid-2026. The first purification line should be operational in 2029. PureCycle also plans to add compounding capabilities at the site, but it did not disclose timelines.

The final Gen 2 design should have a capacity of more than 300 million lb/year before compounding, PureCycle said. The company will disclose design capacity in early 2026 after it finishes engineering.

PureCycle will build another Gen 2 line in Thailand or Augusta.

The following table summarizes PureCycle’s expansion plans. Figures are in millions of pounds per year.

Site	Capacity
Belgium	130
Thailand	130
Augusta	300+
Augusta or Thailand	300+
TOTAL	860+

Source: PureCycle

PureCycle has one operating facility in Ironton, Ohio, US, that has a capacity of 107 million lb/year.

The following chart illustrates the timeline for the projects.

Source: PureCycle

PureCycle revealed the expansion plans when it announced that it raised $300 million from new and existing investors. Those investors include Duquesne Family Office, Wasserstein Debt Opportunities, Samlyn Capital, Pleiad Investment Advisors and Sylebra Capital Management.

PureCycle recycles waste PP through a dissolution process.

Thumbnail shows PP. Image by Shutterstock.