The chemical recycling sector is experiencing significant growth in Spain and Europe thanks to strategic investments and the implementation of projects with a high impact on the circular economy and industrial sustainability . Initiatives that combine new technologies and public-private partnerships aim not only to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials but also to add value to waste that previously ended up in landfills or incinerators.
In this context, different regions are moving towards more efficient industrial models , focused on transforming non-recyclable waste into new raw materials useful for sectors such as chemicals, textiles, and energy. The emphasis on pyrolysis, depolymerization, and the utilization of byproducts is setting the trend.
Major investments in new chemical recycling plants
The Spanish company Greene Enterprise has secured €224 million in financing through an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Santander. This sum will allow the company to build five innovative industrial plants in Spain designed to treat industrial and municipal solid waste that is currently not recyclable by traditional methods.
The future facilities, planned for locations such as Muel (Zaragoza), La Selva del Camp (Tarragona), San Cristóbal de Entreviñas (Zamora), Madridejos (Toledo), and As Somozas (A Coruña), will use advanced pyrolysis technology to convert more than 200.000 tons of waste per year into useful materials such as pyrolytic oil and char. This maximizes the recovery of the "reject fraction" and prevents it from being sent to landfills, reinforcing the commitment to the Circular Economy Action Plan . More details on advances in chemical recycling in the textile and plastics sectors.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the development of these plants will create more than 100 direct jobs and twice as many indirect jobs, boosting the local economies of the municipalities where they are located. Two of the projects, situated in Aragon and Galicia, have been designated as strategic priorities by their respective autonomous communities.
Chemical recycling projects in Castile and León
In the Castile and León region, Modelo de Upcycling Sostenible SL (Modus, SL) has received an environmental license to operate a chemical recycling plant for non-hazardous plastics and textiles in the province of León. With a treatment capacity of 51.020 tons per year , the facility will employ alkaline hydrolysis depolymerization processes and cutting-edge microwave technologies, yielding high-value products such as recycled PET, terephthalic acid, monoethylene glycol, and auxiliary compounds (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite).
The plant, which will occupy almost 80.000 square meters , will be equipped with advanced environmental control systems and comprehensive water and gas treatment, complying with the best available techniques recognized by the EU . Operating conditions include strict measures for preventing emissions and environmental risks, as well as the in-house production of chemical inputs to reduce dependence on external resources.
Impact on the circular economy and local industry
These new facilities contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions and promote the reuse of materials in industrial processes. The pyrolysis and depolymerization approach allows for the recovery of key elements from waste that traditionally had a high environmental impact, moving towards an industry less dependent on fossil raw materials. Recycling for solar and wind energy drives the circular economy.
The push for chemical recycling in Spain and Europe is aligned with the EIB's strategic priorities for climate action and national sustainability roadmaps. In the medium term, these projects are expected to serve as a benchmark for other similar initiatives and help meet the ambitious goals of circularity and climate neutrality in the productive sector.
Advances in chemical recycling, both in industrial facilities and in the refinement of associated technologies, are changing how we manage waste and fostering a more environmentally friendly economy. Collaboration between government agencies, technology companies, and the financial sector is key to accelerating the transition to a truly circular economy.