Norway Opens “Områ” Facility, Boosting Europe’s Plastic Recycling Capacity

Norway has officially launched “Områ,” a new national sorting facility designed to revolutionize the country’s plastic recycling system and advance Europe’s circular economy. According to TOMRA and Plastretur, the facility marks a major step forward in transforming mixed plastic packaging waste into high-quality materials for reuse.

Jointly owned by TOMRA (65%) and Plastretur (35%), the Holtskogen-based site can process up to 90,000 tonnes of plastic packaging annually, converting previously non-recyclable plastics into ten separate monofractions—such as PE, PP, PET, and PS—ready for high-grade recycling.

According to the official announcement, Områ employs advanced sensor-based sorting technology that enables precise material separation, significantly improving recovery efficiency and recycling rates. The facility is expected to handle all of Norway’s household plastic packaging waste, reducing the nation’s reliance on incineration.

“Områ is more than a facility — it’s a missing link in Europe’s circular economy,” said Tove Andersen, President and CEO of TOMRA. “This facility has the capacity to receive and transform all of Norway’s household plastic packaging waste into recyclable fractions, essentially closing the loop for plastics.”

Situated just outside Oslo, Områ will serve as a key infrastructure partner for municipalities and waste management companies seeking automated mixed waste sorting (MWS) systems. This approach allows higher recycling rates without depending entirely on household source separation—a long-standing challenge across Europe.

Karl Johan Ingvaldsen, CEO of Plastretur, emphasized the facility’s strategic importance: “Områ gives municipalities and the entire value chain a clear signal: there is now a scalable, high-quality route for plastic packaging.”

The launch comes as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims for at least 55% of plastic packaging waste to be recycled by 2030. Norway currently recycles roughly one-third of its plastic packaging, with the remainder largely incinerated. Industry experts suggest Områ could become a blueprint for future national recycling infrastructures across Europe, helping member states meet upcoming EU circular economy targets.

Source: TOMRA

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Områ’s debut marks a defining step in Europe’s journey toward a circular plastics economy—turning Norway’s plastic waste challenge into a model for sustainable recovery.