ExxonMobil has announced plans to invest over $200 million to enhance its advanced recycling operations at its Baytown and Beaumont facilities in Texas. The expansion, slated to begin operations in 2026, aims to boost advanced recycling rates and reduce plastic waste destined for landfills. The investment includes the construction of additional units, supporting the company’s goal of achieving a global advanced recycling capacity of 1 billion pounds per year by 2027.
“This multi-million-dollar investment will enhance our ability to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into raw materials for valuable new products,” said Karen McKee, president of ExxonMobil Product Solutions. “At our Baytown site, we’ve proven advanced recycling works at scale, and we’re confident in our ambition to process more than 1 billion pounds of plastic per year globally. This proprietary technology plays a critical role in helping establish a circular economy for plastics and reducing waste.”
The expansion will add 350 million pounds of annual advanced recycling capacity at Baytown and Beaumont, bringing ExxonMobil’s total to 500 million pounds per year. Additional advanced recycling projects are under development at sites in North America, Europe, and Asia to meet growing global demand for sustainable materials. Currently, ExxonMobil serves advanced recycling customers in over 15 countries, catering to sectors like food-safe packaging and pet food, where demand continues to rise.
Advanced recycling complements traditional mechanical recycling by converting plastic waste into raw materials for a variety of products, such as fuels, lubricants, and high-performance chemicals. Unlike mechanical recycling, it can process a broader range of plastic waste, including materials that might otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators.
The process is a critical component of a circular economy, which encompasses the entire lifecycle of plastics—from product design to waste management. By improving waste management systems and supporting product circularity, advanced recycling is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
“The global plastic waste challenge requires innovation, collaboration, and supportive government policies to improve waste management and circularity,” McKee noted. “ExxonMobil is committed to developing scalable technology, investing in recycling infrastructure, and helping customers meet their sustainability goals.”
ExxonMobil’s Baytown facility, which began operations in 2022, is one of the largest advanced recycling plants in North America. As of October 2024, it has processed over 70 million pounds of plastic waste. The company’s efforts in improving collection and sortation systems are bolstered by its involvement in the joint venture Cyclyx, formed in 2021.
This latest investment underscores ExxonMobil’s role as a leader in the development and scaling of advanced recycling technologies, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy for plastics.
