Promoting smart specialised plastic recycling hubs in the EMR region

The Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR), which includes regions from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, is leading efforts to improve cross-border cooperation, including in plastic recycling. Michael Dejozé, Director of EGTC EMR, and Tom Vandeput, EGTC EMR Board Member and President of POM Limburg, share their initiatives and challenges in developing smart specialised plastic recycling hubs.

"POM Limburg, which leads the work on Plastic Recycling within the EMR Partnership, and its Plastic Community have long been exploring opportunities offered by a network of Recycling Hubs in the Euregion. In such a network, we make smart choices together about targeted specialisation. This allows companies to achieve the scale needed for economically viable recycling," Tom Vandeput explains.

These hubs would involve the cross-border import and export of specific plastic waste from neighbouring regions. However, consultations with companies such as Trinseo, Borealis, and INEOS Inovyn have revealed significant challenges in transporting plastic materials across borders. “Different national waste policies, calculation methods, and plastic classifications create legal uncertainties," Tom Vandeput said.

To navigate these complexities, EMR turned to b-solutions experts. Experts assigned to each regional border—Belgium-Netherlands, Belgium-Germany, and Netherlands-Germany—drafted reports with solutions taking into account multi-level legal frameworks and administrative practices.

"We received usable reports with a crystal-clear analysis and paths to solutions in less than half a year," Michael Dejozé notes.

Recommended actions include signing bilateral waste shipment agreements, mapping plastic waste flows, and establishing guidelines. Other tailored solutions were developed to address the specific realities of each border area.

Tom Vandeput praised the multidisciplinary approach of the proposed solutions. "Logistics, for instance, play a crucial role in building in the dynamics needed for building a plastic recycling hub. The Port of Genk, with its multimodal facilities, can enhance efficiency. Multimodal solutions, ease of doing business, and state-of-the-art digital support are essential. The solutions presented in the b-solutions reports will be of great help," he explains.

Moving forward, the EMR plans to implement the recommended solutions, advancing its ambitions for cross-border plastic recycling. "The next step is implementation," Michael Dejozé emphasises.

To achieve this, Tom Vandeput stresses the need for collaboration across the circular supply chain. "We need integration of not just the suppliers of feedstock but also the recycling plants, the multimodal logistics chain. The concepts of a smart digital layer must be considered," he concludes.

Ambitious goals and ongoing discussions seek to further support these efforts through b-solutions.