Viridor: Plastic recycling operations at Quantafuel suspended

British recycling and waste management group Viridor is discontinuing the plastic recycling activities of its Norwegian subsidiary Quantafuel.

The company announced the decision in a press release at the end of June. It cited declining demand for recycled materials due to the availability of low-cost virgin plastics, as well as regulatory uncertainty and a lack of political support.

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The decision affects Quantafuel's commercial-scale pyrolysis plant in Skive near Viborg, Denmark, the company's R&D site in Malmö, Sweden, and its engineering and project management operations at Quantafuel's headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The Skive recycling plant uses Quantafuel's proprietary plastics-to-liquids (PTL) technology, which was previously tested at a pilot facility in Kristiansund, Norway.

Viridor executive Lee Hodder said: "Following consultation with employee representatives and extensive efforts to explore alternative options, we have made the difficult decision to cease our European chemical recycling operations. I would like to thank everyone at Quantafuel for their commitment, expertise and dedication. Together, they have demonstrated that this technology works and achieved significant operational progress. Advanced plastic recycling has an important role to play in the circular economy, but without improved market conditions, greater regulatory certainty and the right policy support, the sector is not economically viable."

Viridor is regarded as one of the UK's leading recycling and waste management companies. Headquartered in Taunton in southwest England, the company is active in waste collection and materials recovery and operates numerous landfill sites, waste-to-energy facilities and recycling plants across England, Wales and Scotland. Three years ago, Viridor first acquired a majority stake in Quantafuel before purchasing the remaining shares in early 2024.

More information: www.viridor.co.uk

Viridor, Ardley, England