en.Wedoany.com Reported - A group of circular economy projects at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has reached a significant permitting milestone, advancing the development of the NextGen District into an industrial-scale hub for waste recycling and resource circulation.

Synpet has obtained environmental and building permits for a EUR 300 million advanced recycling plant, paving the way for a final investment decision. The plant will process approximately 250,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste annually, using patented technology to convert materials that are currently non-recyclable and would otherwise be incinerated into circular alternatives to naphtha and natural gas. This facility is expected to be one of the largest and most advanced recycling facilities currently under construction globally.

TripleW, which already operates a demonstration facility producing lactic acid from food waste in the NextGen Demo zone, has obtained an environmental permit for the construction of a commercial-scale plant in the NextGen District. This facility will be Europe's first industrial-scale plant to convert food waste into circular lactic acid. Expected to commence operations in the first half of 2029, it will be capable of processing up to 100,000 tonnes of mixed food waste annually. The plant is expected to create over 35 direct jobs, and its lactic acid products will be supplied to other companies for manufacturing a range of products, including personal care and household cleaning items.

Bolder Industries, a U.S. company specializing in tire-derived materials, has received final approval for its first European production base in the NextGen District. Bolder employs a continuous pyrolysis process that can recover up to 98% of materials from end-of-life automotive tires. The facility will be built in two phases, achieving a processing capacity of 86,000 tonnes per year.