In the 1980s, the last mines in Limburg (Belgium) closed. To safeguard employment and preserve technological expertise, several reconversion projects were launched. At the same time, a consumer society prevailed, resulting in a growing mountain of waste due to the increasing number of plastic packaging materials. Meanwhile, environmental awareness was rising. The solution according to Ecoo’s founders: teaching citizens to sort their household plastic waste and subsequently recycle it.
The City of Hasselt as a pilot project
In 1989, construction of the first recycling line began and the City of Hasselt collected its plastic waste for several years. Once sufficient volumes had been gathered, the first tests were carried out. Gradually, the collection of household residual plastics expanded to the entire province and recycling technology continued to evolve.
From Beringen to Houthalen
The collection of household residual plastics steadily expanded beyond the borders of Limburg. Available recycling capacity needed to be increased, and in 2000 the move to the current site in Houthalen became a reality. From then on, recycling capacity was increased to 5,000 tonnes per year through the construction of a full-scale recycling line. In 2010, the maximum recycling capacity of 10,000 tonnes was reached and a second recycling line was built, raising total capacity to 22,000 tonnes per year.
Pink, green or blue bag?
More and more intermunicipal organisations decided to collect household residual plastics separately. This reduced the volume of residual waste and allowed more plastic waste to be recycled. Each introduced its own system. In the Leuven region, the pink bag was introduced, while IOK in the Kempen region launched the green bag.
National collection of household residual plastics
In 2019, the new blue bag was introduced. From then on, all household residual plastics could be sorted into it. This way, 8 kilograms of residual waste are diverted from incineration and additionally recycled. At the Houthalen site, a third washing line is being built and recycling capacity is evolving towards 30,000 tonnes.
More about the new blue bagBack to the roots
With the introduction of the new blue bag, we are expanding once again. From 2022 onwards, we return to where it all began. While in Houthalen we process mixed residual plastics into garden products, in Beringen we take it one step further. At this second site, we start recycling PE film into film. From your film packaging, we once again create film applications such as garbage bags. One level higher than in Houthalen, a step further towards circularity. The quality of the recycled raw materials approaches that of virgin plastics.
An open system of rethinkers
Creating a sustainable future is not something you do alone. An ecosystem that connects us through responsibility, based on partnerships that strengthen each other and shared knowledge that moves us forward. That is how we take the lead in the circular economy. With rethinking as our foundation. From given to solution. From fact to possibility. Product becomes raw material, becomes product, becomes raw material. That is how we change perspective today and close the circle once again.
