CYCLYX: the first circularity center in Houston already a third more expensive before its completion

The American circularity center planned by Cyclyx International for the Port of Houston, Texas, is not only delayed, but also much more expensive. Commissioning, initially planned for 2023, but postponed to 2024, is now only likely in mid-2025. At the same time, the project, in which LyondellBasell (LYB, Houston, Texas; www.lyondellbasell.com) and ExxonMobil (Irving, Texas; www.exxonmobil.com) are largely involved, now amounts to an investment of 135 million dollars (125.8 million euros), instead of the 100 million dollars initially planned.

Cyclyx has now established a collection program with various local authorities and schools in the Houston area to filter plastic waste from the household waste stream, including waste that is not mechanically recycled. These will then be transported to the company’s sorting and processing plant. So far, a rather moderate 200 t have been collected in this way. However, the project is probably more intended to test how the material flow works when the plant is commissioned.

Related: LYB enters joint venture with ExxonMobil and Cyclyx to build waste sorting facility in the United States

ExxonMobil has announced plans to use pyrolysis to turn plastic waste into raw material for crackers. The rest of the value chain includes packaging manufacturers such as Air sealed, Ahold Delhaize, Berry GlobalAnd Amcorwith whom ExxonMobil has already concluded purchasing agreements.