Jieyang pioneers world’s first 200,000-ton mixed plastic recycling plant

CHINA – Jieyang, has launched trial operations at the world’s first industrial plant capable of processing 200,000 tons of mixed scrap plastics annually. 

The facility, located in Guangdong province, employs a cutting-edge chemical recycling process to transform low-value plastic waste into high-value chemical raw materials.

According to Wang Shaole, deputy party secretary of Jieyang, the plant utilizes the world’s first integrated equipment for deep catalytic cracking. 

“Through this ‘one-step’ process, low-value mixed scrap plastics are directly converted into high-value-added chemical raw materials, effectively addressing plastic pollution while promoting high-value recycling,” Wang stated during a recent news conference. 

He emphasized that the project is poised to reduce China’s reliance on imported crude oil and offer a model for global green circular economies.

Operated by Guangdong Dongyue Chemical Technology, the facility introduces a revolutionary approach that eliminates the need for complex plastic sorting. 

Zhang Xingong, chairman of the company, highlighted the technology’s efficiency. 

“Unlike traditional two-step methods that require sorting and dissolving, our process directly converts mixed plastics into chemical feedstocks, achieving a product yield exceeding 92%,” Zhang explained. 

He added that the technology prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and low-carbon operations, aligning with global environmental goals.

Local authorities are committed to supporting the project’s expansion, with plans for phases II and III targeting over three million tons of annual plastic waste processing. 

“We aim to create a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and world-class business climate to attract global enterprises,” Wang said, noting that the initiative will provide valuable experience for future projects in the region.

In 2023, Sweden’s Site Zero, another advanced recycling facility, began operations processing 200,000 tons of mixed plastics annually with a 95% sorting success rate. 

Svensk Plaståtervinning (Swedish Plastic Recycling) invested one billion Swedish Krona (about US$95 million) in the facility.

“The conditions now exist to actually make plastics part of the circular economy,” says Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Svensk Plaståtervinning.

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