RCS Group invests €75 million in new plastics recycling facility in Germany

German recycling company RCS Group has officially started construction of a new RCS Plastics facility in Werne, representing an investment of approximately €75 million in additional plastics recycling capacity.

Construction officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony on 28 August 2026. The new facility will be developed on a 6.5-hectare expansion area north of the company's existing main site.

According to RCS Group, the new operation is expected to process around 100,000 tonnes of plastic material annually. Feedstocks will include HDPE caps, polystyrene, PET trays and PET beverage bottles, which will be processed into high-quality recyclates for different applications.

One of the most significant elements of the project is the planned development and production of food-grade recycled HDPE from caps.

Obtaining recyclates suitable for food-contact applications requires demanding approval procedures as well as high standards for processing technology, quality assurance and documentation. RCS says it intends to position itself among the pioneers in this field and develop additional closed-loop applications for recycled HDPE.

The investment comes at an important moment for the European recycling industry, as demand for high-quality secondary raw materials is expected to increase alongside stricter circularity and recycled-content requirements.

The new RCS Plastics facility will operate as an independent site incorporating production, logistics, administration, maintenance and service areas.
Around 60 new jobs are expected to be created, including approximately five apprenticeship positions.

Completion of the facility is currently scheduled for between late 2027 and early 2028.

SOURCE
RCS Group – 28 August 2026
“€75 million for the circular economy”