Large scale chemical recycling a step closer Down Under

US-based chemical recycler Alterra and Australian oil refiner Viva Energy are making big steps in chemical recycling.

Viva has successfully processed 9.5 tonnes of pyrolysis oil produced by Alterra from post-consumer plastics at its facility in Akron, Ohio. Viva recovered the oil at its Geelong refinery in the Australian state of Victoria.

The trial opens the door for a large-scale pyrolysis plant in Australia, company experts say.

Soft plastics

In April 2024, Viva and Australian waste management company Cleanaway agreed on a pre-feasibility assessment of a pyrolysis plant for soft plastics and other hard-to-recycle plastics.

The focus of the trial in Australia was whether contaminants would impact either the design of the joint venture facility or the ability of the Geelong refinery to process pyrolysis oil at scale.

Design standards

The learnings from the trial will be used to inform new packaging design standards to maximise the volume of soft plastics that can be processed through chemical recycling technologies.

Australia introduced national recycling targets for packaging in 2018 in an industry-led scheme. It requires 70% of plastic packaging to be recycled or composted by 2025. Australia will not reach the target, with only 18% of plastic packaging being recycled in 2023. Groups have called for the introduction of a plastic tax and extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme in response.