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Port of Antwerp Bruges has advanced three circular economy projects after regulators approved key permits for plastic, food waste and tyre recycling facilities planned within the port area.
The approvals allow Synpet, TripleW and Bolder Industries to continue preparations for plants that together could process more than 436,000 tonnes of waste annually. The developments support the port’s ambition to become climate neutral by 2050 while creating new industrial cargo flows and construction demand.
Synpet advances plastic recycling plant
Synpet received environmental and building permits in early June 2026 for a proposed €300 million recycling facility at Port of Antwerp Bruges.
The company plans to process about 250,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste each year. The targeted material is largely unsuitable for conventional recycling and is often sent to incineration.
Using patented technology, the plant would convert the waste into circular substitutes for naphtha and natural gas. The permit decision allows Synpet to progress towards a final investment decision before construction begins.
TripleW plans food waste processing facility
TripleW has secured an environmental permit for a commercial lactic acid plant in the port’s NextGen District, which houses companies focused on circular production.
The company already operates a demonstration facility in the NextGen Demo area. Its process converts mixed food waste into lactic acid used in products including hair gel and household cleaning materials.
The proposed plant is expected to become Europe’s first industrial scale facility producing circular lactic acid from food waste. Operations are scheduled to begin during the first half of 2029.
Once completed, the facility could process up to 100,000 tonnes of mixed food waste annually and create more than 35 direct jobs.
Bolder prepares European tyre recycling site
Bolder Industries has received final approval for its first European production facility, also planned for the NextGen District.
The United States company uses continuous thermal pyrolysis to recover up to 98% of the material contained in discarded vehicle tyres. What happens to millions of tyres once their road life ends? Bolder plans to turn that waste stream into reusable industrial materials.
The facility will be developed in two phases and is designed to process 86,000 tonnes annually, equal to about 6 million tyres. The first phase is expected to create more than 50 regional jobs. The company can now begin selecting a construction contractor.
