Broeckx builds new plastics sorting hub ahead of export ban

Dutch plastics recycler Broeckx has broken ground on an innovative facility in Esbeek. The sorting hub is meant to empower recyclers before the plastic waste export ban is enforced next year.

‘After years of dreaming, planning and getting paperwork in order, the time has finally come,’ says company owner Ad Broeckx. ‘We’ve started the construction of our new sorting centre.’ He believes the advanced sorting line, which separates fractions according to colour, plastic type and melt flow index, ‘sets a new industry standard’.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial with the industry grappling with the EU’s ban on the exports of plastic scrap being introduced in November 2026. It means EU recyclers have to strengthen their domestic processing capacity. Given current market conditions, that’s easier said than done.

Premium quality

Broeckx, a family-owned recycling firm with over 40 years’ experience, is eager to face the challenge. Its fully automated sorting facility, with a capacity of 13.5 tonnes per hour, will be ready in early 2026. The recycler is specifically targeting low density polyethylene (LDPE) film, recycling the scrap into five quality categories.

An added benefit of the hub is that will cuts CO2 emissions by the equivalent of over 150 000 tonnes per year. ‘It’s next generation of sorting,’ Broeckx says.

Less reliance on export

The entrepreneur observes that offering premium-grade recyclate domestically and across the EU will make all the difference. Recyclers are struggling to source enough recyclate due to the EU’s strict quality guidelines. Some foreign players are even trading recycled plastics using forged quality certificates.

Broeckx estimates that the Benelux region exports around 500 000 tonnes of LDPE scrap every year. Most of the material ends up outside the EU, in China and other Asian countries. 

More recycled content

Meanwhile, the Dutch government plans to increase the level of recycled content in the coming years. Legislators are discussing a 25-30% minimum goal by 2030 in line with EU-wide targets, which will be officially announced next year.

These targets also include bio-based materials.