Belgium Expands Plastics Recycling Capacity With New Household Waste Facility

Interior view of a modern recycling plant with blue conveyor belts and machinery; Copyright: Ingka Group — State-of-the-art recycling technology: In Lommel, Morssinkhof-Rymoplast is building a new plant to process household plastics into high-quality recyclates. Copyright: Ingka Group

01.08.2025

A major step forward for Belgium’s plastics recycling efforts: In Lommel, a new facility will process plastic household waste from around 80% of Belgian households. The project represents a key investment in sustainable materials management and the circular economy.

Worker sorting plastic waste in a recycling facility; Copyright: Ingka Group — Household plastic waste like butter tubs and bottles will be transformed into new products at the Lommel plant. Copyright: Ingka Group

New Recycling Plant Turns Household Plastics Into High-Quality Recycled Materials

Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group, part of Ingka Investments' portfolio since 2017, is building its third recycling plant in Belgium and its 13th facility overall. The new site in Lommel will transform common household plastics – such as milk bottles, butter tubs and shampoo containers – into high-quality recyclates. These materials can be reused in various sectors, for example in packaging for personal care products.

Key facts at a glance:

Location: Lommel, Belgium
Focus: Recycling of plastic packaging from the national PMD collection system (Plastic, Metal, and Drink cartons)
Households covered: 4 million (80% of Belgian households)
Jobs created: 65 new positions

Investing in Recycling Despite Industry Challenges

The plastics recycling sector faces challenges such as rising operational costs, labour shortages, and changing regulations. Nevertheless, Morssinkhof-Rymoplast and Ingka Investments are committed to advancing a circular economy through long-term investments and collaboration.

Earlier this year, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, announced a €1 billion circular economy investment strategy through Ingka Investments. The partnership with Morssinkhof-Rymoplast is a key element of this initiative.

This facility demonstrates how households, companies, and governments can collaborate to keep plastics in the loop.

Lukas Visser, Head of Circular Investment Ingka Investments

Waste separation system with plastic bottles and organic waste in kitchen bins, view from above; Copyright: IKEA — Household recycling made easy: The HÅLLBAR sorting system from IKEA uses recycled plastics – soon also from Belgian household waste. Copyright: IKEA

Recycling Comes Full Circle for Belgian Consumers

Nathalie Van Edom, Sustainability Manager at IKEA Belgium, highlights the tangible benefits for consumers: "At Ingka Group, we already use recycled household plastics produced by Morssinkhof-Rymoplast in products like our HÅLLBAR waste sorting bins. With this new facility, Belgian customers will literally see the impact of their recycling efforts – products made from their own butter tubs returning to their homes."

Belgium has significantly increased its plastics recycling capacity. Five years ago, only 9% of household plastic packaging was recycled domestically. Today, that figure stands at 69%. Thanks to new facilities and close collaboration between citizens, industry, and government, Belgium is expected to surpass a 75% recycling rate next year.

Evy Morssinkhof, Organisation & Business Development at Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group, states: "Despite industry challenges, our mission remains clear: to turn plastic waste into high-quality materials that can be reused again and again. This new plant is an investment in infrastructure – and a promise to Belgian households that their recycling efforts matter."

Exhibitors & products around recycling

Ingka Group

At a glance

Morssinkhof-Rymoplast Group is building a new recycling plant for household plastics. The facility will process packaging waste from around 80% of Belgian households into high-quality recyclates. The project, supported by Ingka Investments (IKEA Group), strengthens the circular economy, creates 65 jobs, and helps increase Belgium’s domestic recycling rate beyond 75%.