Viridor Closes European Chemical Recycling Operations in Oslo, Skive and Malmö
LONDON, UK — Viridor today announces that, following a local consultation and extensive efforts to identify a viable path forward, it has taken the difficult decision to close its European chemical recycling operations in Oslo (Norway), Skive (Denmark) and Malmö (Sweden).
The closure of all operations will be completed by the end of June 2026.
Operational Progress vs. Commercial Reality
This decision comes despite significant operational progress across the business. Since acquiring the Quantafuel platform, Viridor has achieved dry yields of 70–75%, and has demonstrated the ability to successfully recycle contaminated household plastics that cannot be processed through conventional mechanical recycling methods.
Viridor has long called for stronger policy support and greater regulatory certainty to help create the conditions needed for the sector to grow and attract investment, and believes advanced plastics recycling has an important role to play in the circular economy. However, current market dynamics and continued policy uncertainty mean conditions are not yet supporting the sector commercially.
Demand for recycled material has weakened, while cheaper virgin materials continue to undercut recycled alternatives. At the same time, policy and regulation are not creating the certainty, enforcement, or long-term support needed to continue operations.
Viridor remains committed to delivering a circular economy, preventing waste from going to landfill, and supporting decarbonisation. While advanced plastics recycling has a vital role to play, stronger market conditions and policy support are needed for the sector to succeed.
Leadership Statement
“Following consultation with employee representatives and extensive efforts to explore alternative options, we have taken the difficult decision to close our European chemical recycling operations.
This is a difficult day, particularly for the colleagues directly affected, and our priority is to support them through this transition. I want to thank everyone across Quantafuel for their commitment, expertise and hard work. Together, they have demonstrated that this technology works and made significant operational progress.
Advanced plastics recycling has an important role to play in the circular economy, but without stronger market conditions, greater regulatory certainty, and the right policy support, the sector is not commercially viable. We remain committed to delivering a circular economy and hope the conditions will exist in the future for this technology to fulfil its potential.”
— Lee Hodder, Managing Director, Carbon Capture and Circular Solutions at Viridor
Sector Implications
The closure highlights the commercial fragility of chemical recycling in Europe despite technical viability. The technology works — 70-75% dry yields achieved with contaminated household plastics successfully processed — but the economics fail as virgin plastic pricing undercuts recycled alternatives and recycled demand has weakened. The policy gap is also significant: PPWR and ELV regulations are not yet creating sufficient pull-through demand, and high CapEx projects need long-term policy visibility to attract investment.
Resources
Company Boilerplate
Viridor is one of the UK’s leading resource and waste management companies, part of KKR’s global infrastructure platform. The company operates energy recovery facilities, recycling operations, and waste treatment infrastructure across the UK. Viridor acquired the Quantafuel chemical recycling platform to advance advanced recycling of mixed plastic waste.
Source: Viridor press release, July 6, 2026