ARA, Bernegger, and GreenDot announce €35 million expansion of cutting-edge plastics recycling facility in upper Austria

One year after its successful launch, the TriPlast high-tech sorting facility in Ennshafen is already exceeding expectations and playing a vital role in Austria’s circular economy. Now, Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA), Bernegger GmbH, and GreenDot are investing an additional €35 million to build a new plastics recycling facility at the same site, taking the nation’s recycling capabilities to an entirely new level.

At the heart of this expansion is the UPCYCLE process, a patented technology developed by ARA, which enables the processing of up to 41,000 tonnes of previously unusable plastic waste per year. This includes materials that were once too contaminated or too small to recycle and were typically incinerated as substitute fuels. By further refining polyolefins and composite packaging materials like PolyAl (used in beverage cartons), the new facility will significantly increase both yield and recycling rates.

The goal is to produce high-quality recyclates, even for demanding applications such as food-grade packaging, thus boosting material recovery, enhancing resource security, and supporting EU-wide climate and sustainability targets.

Next-Level Recycling Through Innovation

The expanded plant will incorporate advanced upstream fine sorting to clean individual plastic fractions more precisely, paving the way for mechanical and chemical recycling methods capable of producing food-grade polyolefins. This process is already being piloted in Pöchlarn, Lower Austria, and will be scaled up in Ennshafen by the end of 2026.

“TriPlast is a best-practice model for cross-border circular economy collaboration,” said Laurent Auguste, CEO of GreenDot. “It demonstrates how partnerships, innovation, and technology can raise the bar for plastics recycling while supporting European resource independence. With our experience in system leadership, we’re helping brand owners meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets.”

Impressive First-Year Results

TriPlast was designed to process up to 100,000 tonnes of lightweight packaging waste annually—around 20 tonnes per hour—from Austria’s Yellow Bag and Yellow Bin collection systems. Since operations began on July 1, 2024, the facility has outperformed expectations. Originally targeting an 80% material recovery rate, it has already achieved an 85% yield in its first year.

“With TriPlast, we’re reaffirming our role as a leader in Austria’s recycling industry,” said Thomas Eck of ARA. “This new €35 million investment will transform the Ennshafen site into a hub for circular innovation, and the UPCYCLE process will allow us to recover even more high-value materials for reuse.”

The facility is also equipped with state-of-the-art sensors capable of detecting and separating 24 distinct types of plastic, ensuring highly accurate material sorting. A dedicated team of 70 employees work on-site, contributing daily to Austria’s environmental and economic goals.

“Operating as a joint venture truly pays off—for waste management, for Austria’s economy, and for the climate,” said Kurt Bernegger, CEO of Bernegger GmbH. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited about the future of TriPlast and the circular economy in Europe.”