Regenyx started operations in 2019 as the first commercial-scale close-loop chemical recycling facility for PS in the world. The two companies operated the plant in Tigard, Oregon, United States.
When Regenyx first launched, Agilyx and AmSty expected it to process up to 10 tons of PS waste per day (3,650 tons per year). However, Agilyx’s 2021 annual report showed the facility had processed a total of 4,400 tons between 2019 and 2021. In April 2021, Agilyx said the facility was undergoing operational advancements to maximise efficiency.
On Feb. 29, 2024, Agilyx published a statement saying the joint venture decided to close Regenxy ‘after successfully achieving the objectives defined in its five-year formation agreement’. The plant will cease operations by April 30, alongside the wind down of the venture.
“We are very proud of our team and our company for the important work we’ve done over the past five years in Tigard,” said Russ Main, interim CEO of Agilyx. “Building this first-of-its-kind circular recycling model for polystyrene in the US opened the door for Agilyx to progress additional commercial projects, such as the Toyo Styrene plant in Japan which is nearing completion of commissioning and will showcase the latest generation of Agilyx technology.”
Regenyx was a demonstration site for Agilyx’s pyrolysis technology, a process called recycled styrene monomer production. AmSty reprocessed the feedstock into polystyrene resin and products at its production facility. The companies say they diverted over 6 million pounds (2,721 tonnes) of post-use polystyrene waste from landfills during the five-year project. The site received ISCC-Plus certification in 2020.