World first for Amsterdam

(Posted on 09/05/18)

Construction has started of a new facility in the port of Amsterdam that will convert non-recyclable plastic into fuel for the transport sector, which will cut down CO₂ emission by 57,000 tonnes per year. It is the first project of Bin2Barrel, a Dutch company focusing on the development of Plastic-to projects. This is how synthetic materials that could not be reused otherwise will now become reusable in a useful application, while at the same time offering a more sustainable alternative for traditional transport fuels. The ultimate goal is application of the produced substances in the production of new synthetic materials, in other words chemical recycling. This brings the mission of Bin2Barrel fully in line with the targets of the Dutch government, who recently added chemical recycling to its national waste management plan. The plant will be built in collaboration with Port of Amsterdam and is expected to be up and running by the end of this year.

The first plant of Bin2Barrel, accomplished with an investment of approx. €28m, will produce more than 30m litres of fuel per year out of 35,000 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic. This is the first time ever that commercial use is made of a proven technology, partly thanks to a government grant for energy innovation (DEI). The flow of non-recyclable plastic comes from Dutch waste collectors and processors, who would otherwise just burn waste for lack of any other applications. In combustion of the produced fuel, the return on energy is nearly three times higher (80%) than in direct burning of plastic in waste incinerators (33%). Although, potentially, the fuel is also suitable for other sectors, Bin2Barrel focuses first on selling it to the marine industry. Roon van Maanen, Head of Circular & Renewable Industry at Port of Amsterdam, is pleased with the collaboration with Bin2Barrel: “The use of plastic and the lack of a proper processing of plastic cause massive pollution worldwide. Bin2Barrel introduces innovative and badly needed technology that will enable us to make use of a currently non-recyclable flow of waste in a manner that makes perfect sense. By creating a new product from an otherwise problematic waste product, Bin2Barrel fits perfectly within the mission of Port of Amsterdam to facilitate energy transition as well as transition to a circular economy.”