ExxonMobil has announced the expansion of its advanced recycling capabilities at its Baytown, Texas facility, adding a second unit to significantly boost capacity.
Since the launch of the company’s first advanced recycling unit in late 2022, more than 100 million pounds of plastic waste have been processed as of May 2025.The addition of the second unit marks a strategic milestone in ExxonMobil’s broader plan to scale up advanced recycling across the U.S. and internationally. The new unit builds on key operational insights gained from the first, allowing for improved efficiency and performance.
According to the company, the expansion reflects a sound investment that benefits stakeholders across the board—including customers, shareholders, and local communities. By embedding these recycling units within existing manufacturing facilities, ExxonMobil is able to cut implementation costs and accelerate deployment timelines, compared to industry norms.
Advanced recycling is a process that breaks down used plastic into raw materials that can be used to make new, high-value products. ExxonMobil reports that nearly 90% of collected plastic waste can be converted into useful feedstock at its facilities, helping divert plastic from landfills and incineration.
The company acknowledges that one of the biggest barriers to increasing recycling rates globally is the collection and sorting of plastic waste. To help address this, ExxonMobil has partnered with other industry players and municipalities. It co-founded Cyclyx International LLC, a joint venture focused on improving the collection and sorting of diverse plastic materials, and helped launch the Houston Recycling Collaboration to expand residential recycling programs. Interest from additional communities suggests potential for broader regional adoption.
Looking ahead, ExxonMobil has announced plans to build a third and fourth advanced recycling unit in Baytown, as well as its first unit in Beaumont, Texas. Once operational, these additions will raise the company’s total processing capacity to approximately 500 million pounds of plastic waste annually.Further advanced recycling investments are being explored in North America, Europe, and Asia, as ExxonMobil continues to scale its efforts to reduce plastic waste and support a more circular economy.