Veolia to shut two major recycling plants in Germany amid industry pressure, while expanding PET recycling investments in the UK.
Veolia, the France-based global leader in waste management, has announced plans to shut down two of its plastics recycling facilities in Germany by the end of the year. The affected facilities—MultiPet and Multiport GmbH—are both located in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt. Employees at these sites have been informed about the decision, which will mark the end of operations at what has been one of the largest plastic recycling hubs in Europe.
Together, MultiPet and Multiport have a combined annual processing capacity exceeding 70,000 tonnes and employ over 150 workers. MultiPet has been recycling PET waste since 2001, focusing on processing post-consumer beverage bottles and other PET packaging materials. Veolia acquired the facility in December 2017 to strengthen its position in plastic recycling. Multiport, also acquired by Veolia in 2017, was originally founded in 1991. It specializes in producing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) compounds and regrinds, sourcing materials from household, commercial, and industrial plastic waste streams.
Although Veolia has not yet disclosed specific reasons or further details regarding the closures, this decision follows a broader trend in the European plastics recycling industry. The company had already shut down another facility—its PET recycling plant in Rostock, northern Germany—at the end of 2023. That plant had an annual output capacity of 32,000 tonnes of food-grade recycled PET (rPET).
The closures come amid increasing economic pressure on European recyclers. Factors such as reduced domestic production, growing competition from imported plastics, and rising operational costs are placing significant strain on the industry. Industry data suggests that the total plastic recycling capacity lost through closures in 2024 is already double the volume seen in 2023. These trends have continued into 2025, affecting recyclers across the board, from small businesses to major corporations like Veolia.
Despite the challenges in Germany, Veolia remains committed to advancing its plastic recycling capabilities in other regions. Recently, the company announced an investment of GBP 70 million (approximately €81 million) in the United Kingdom to develop the country’s first closed-loop PET tray recycling facility. This new site reflects Veolia's strategy to adapt to shifting market conditions while maintaining its long-term vision for sustainable materials management.
Veolia’s decisions underscore the evolving landscape of the recycling industry in Europe, where shifting market dynamics and regulatory challenges are driving companies to reassess their operational footprints and explore more resilient, region-specific strategies for sustainable growth.
