Montreal-based clean technology company Polystyvert is constructing its first full-scale commercial polystyrene recycling plant in Greater Montreal, Canada.

The new plant is being set up with an investment of $40m alongside additional financial support from two blue-chip partners associated with the polystyrene industry.

The partners will also help in the supply of raw materials and will help sell Polystyvert's recycled polystyrene.

Once constructed, the facility will be capable of recycling 9,000 tonnes of highly contaminated post-consumer and post-industrial polystyrene waste every year.

This recycling amount is equal to approximately 15% of the polystyrene that is buried in Quebec, Canada, annually.

The recycled resin material can then be used as resin for manufacturing new products that are dedicated to the same applications.

The construction of the facility is in line with Canada's economic and environmental goals.

Polystyvert president Nathalie Morin said: “After several successful development phases, our technology has reached maturity. We can now recycle contaminated waste with no other outlet than landfill sites.

“This plant is the first of many that can be built worldwide by replicating what will be done in Greater Montreal, thereby multiplying the economic and environmental benefits of the project.”

Apart from this recycling plant, the company is also establishing a new pilot plant at its research and development centre in east Montreal, with an investment of approximately $3m.

The facility will help the company to expand its process and intellectual property to also include styrenic plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

This thermoplastic polymer can be used by various industries, including in the vehicle, electronics, and toy sectors.

Morin added: “Our research and development team has made considerable progress in adapting the technology to a type of plastic that is widely used in numerous applications in our daily lives.

“The installation of the ABS pilot plant in the east of Montreal marks a pivotal development stage in a new era of recycling for this plastic, which is currently poorly recycled but indispensable in its use. We are pleased to continue our growth in the east of Montreal.”