Baytown becoming one of the largest advanced recycling operations in the world

ExxonMobil’s third advanced recycling unit at its complex in Baytown, Texas, is now operational, a milestone that demonstrates Exxon’s focus on addressing plastic waste and fostering a more circular economy.

With this addition, Baytown has the capacity to process up to ~115,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with plans to reach approximately 200,000 tonnes of annual advanced recycling capacity at the global facilities by the end of 2026. That means more plastics are diverted from landfills and transformed into raw materials for products people use every day.

Advanced recycling complements traditional methods by handling plastics that are harder to recycle. By embedding advanced recycling units within existing facilities, scale-up is faster and more efficient – turning plastic waste into the feedstocks that make many other products like fuel and new plastic.

Looking ahead

What’s essential now is supportive policy frameworks – clear, consistent laws and regulations that recognize advanced recycling as a proven solution for hard-to-recycle plastics. ExxonMobil is seeking the opportunity to keep doing what works, not asking for subsidies. That’s why it supports federal legislation that would officially recognize advanced recycling as recycling, establish clear standards for recycled content claims, and ensure alignment across federal agencies, providing clarity for both industry and consumers. And it’s supported by local and federal leaders, including the City of Baytown and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Source

Bioplastics MAGAZINE, 2026-02-11.

Supplier

ExxonMobil

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