Polystyrene chemical recycling operations at Regenyx (Tigard, Oregon, USA),  a 50/50 joint venture between technology company Agilyx (Oslo, Norway; www.agilyx.com) and PS producer Americas Styrenics (AmSty, The Woodlands, Texas; www.amsty.com), is set to cease operations by 30 April after achieving the objectives defined in its five-year formation agreement.

The Regenyx facility reportedly processed more than 2,700 t of PS and EPS waste since starting operations in 2018. The JV helped commercialise a chemical depolymerisation technology developed by Agilyx that converts PS back into its original components. Having the same quality and durability as the equivalent virgin material, the company said its recycled PS was used by AmSty to manufacture new PS products under its PolyRenew label.

The announcement to cease PS recycling operations and wind down the Regenyx venture, although deemed a success by the joint-venture companies, highlights the suboptimal state of plastics recycling in the US. One of the issues is that there are not many collection systems in place apart from those for PET and HDPE.

Related: Urgent need to forge ahead with recycling, says Napcor

Agilyx interim CEO Russ Main said, “Building this first-of-its kind circular recycling model for polystyrene in the US opened the door for Agilyx to progress additional commercial projects, such as the Toyo Styrene plant in Japan, which is nearing completion of commissioning and will showcase the latest generation of Agilyx technology”.