February 3, 2026 17:02

After starting up the second pyrolysis unit at its Baytown site in Texas in July (see article), ExxonMobil has in recent days completed a third unit, lifting chemical recycling capacity for plastic waste to more than 113,000 tonnes per year.

The company aims to reach 200,000 t/y by the end of this year. Plans include a fourth unit at Baytown and a new plant in Beaumont, also in Texas.

Each unit has a recycling capacity of around 36,000 tonnes per year, and the first unit has been operating at Baytown since 2022.

Announcing the start-up of the new unit, the US petrochemical group reiterated the need for a supportive regulatory framework, calling for clear and consistent laws and regulations that recognise “advanced recycling” as a proven solution for hard-to-recycle plastics. 
At the federal level, the industry is calling for clear standards on recycled-content claims and greater alignment among agencies, to provide more certainty for both companies and consumers.

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