Ineos Styrolution, Agilyx to build PS recycling plant in Illinois

Ineos Styrolution and chemical recycling specialist Agilyx Corp. are setting up a processing facility in Channahon, Ill., as part of their joint effort to advance the chemical recycling of polystyrene.

The facility will be capable of processing up to 100 metric tons per day of post-consumer PS into a styrene product that will go into the manufacturing of new PS products, Frankfurt, Germany-based Ineos Styrolution said in a Dec. 9 news release.

The project is part of an April agreement to bring Agilyx's depolymerization technology at or near an Ineos Styrolution facility in North America.

As part of the effort, Agilyx recently qualified the styrene product to Ineos' specifications and identified post-consumer PS feedstock for the process.

The planned facility will use Agilyx's proprietary chemical recycling technology.

"This is an incredibly exciting time to be in this industry," Ricardo Cuetos, vice president of Ineos Styrolution Americas, standard products, said. "Agilyx's chemical recycling technology is a game changer to advance the circular recycling pathway of plastics."

Cuetos said a benefit of chemical recycling is that no degradation will occur over multiple cycles.

"This plant will dramatically increase recycling rates in the greater Chicago area, dispelling the myth that polystyrene can't be recycled. We are thrilled to partner with Agilyx on this project," he added.

Agilyx claims its process is capable of recycling PS contaminated with food and other organics.

"Polystyrene is the best option for prepared food and beverage containers. It provides cost effective, high-quality packaging for food service applications," Agilyx CEO Joe Vaillancourt said.

Based in Tigard, Ore., Agilyx opened its first commercial PS-to-styrene oil recycling plant in April 2018.

Agilyx is also part of a Styrenics Circular Solutions project that is building a facility in Europe capable of recycling 50 metric tonnes per day of post-consumer PS.