Veolia to Shut Down Plastic Recycling Facilities in Bernburg by End of 2025 Amid Market Challenges

According to an official company statement, Veolia will cease operations at its plastic recycling subsidiaries, MultiPet GmbH and Multiport GmbH, located in Bernburg, Germany, by the end of 2025. The decision comes in response to persistent economic pressures facing the plastic recycling industry.

Guido Adomßent, CEO of Veolia Umweltservice, explained that the facilities have faced mounting difficulties due to high processing costs and prolonged low prices for virgin plastics, rendering continued operations unviable under current conditions.

“From Bernburg, we have supplied recycled HDPE and PET plastics to customers across Europe,” said Adomßent. “However, the profitability of these sites has been severely impacted, and they can no longer be operated economically.”

Founded in 1991 and 2001 respectively, Multiport and MultiPet have played a significant role in the recycling of HDPE and PET plastic waste. Since being integrated into the Veolia Group in 2017, the Bernburg site has become one of Europe’s largest plastic processing hubs, with an annual capacity of approximately 70,000 tonnes, the statement noted.

Veolia said that it has initiated talks with the relevant workers’ council and is exploring the possibility of offering alternative employment opportunities within the group, tailored to the qualifications and personal circumstances of the 122 affected employees.

Despite the closures, Veolia reaffirmed its commitment to circular economy principles. Adomßent emphasized that plastic sorting, pre-treatment, shredding, and trading will remain core components of Veolia’s recycling activities, highlighting the crucial role of its sorting infrastructure in enabling high-quality recycling.

According to the company, material flows previously handled in Bernburg will be redirected to other Veolia facilities, particularly in the Netherlands and France. Additional supply from Germany will help ensure stable capacity utilization at these sites.

Looking ahead, Veolia Germany plans to further expand its PET recycling operations in Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The company is also investing in digitalization and operational efficiency while strengthening partnerships with municipalities and industrial stakeholders.

Source: Veolia Deutschland