As already announced, (see Plasteurope.com 12, 1999) the Dutch company DSM (PO BOX 6500, NL-6401 JH Heerlen) has brought a large-scale facility for polyamide carpet waste recycling into operation in Augusta, GA (USA), which it is running in cooperation with PA market leader AlliedSignal (Morristownship, NJ, USA). The “Evergreen Nylon Recycling Complex” is designed to obtain 45,000 t/y caprolactam from 90,000 t carpet waste by means of depolymerisation. The two partners will each be marketing their 50% share of the caprolactam obtained separately.

Volker Geyer, managing director of DSM Deutschland GmbH (D-40474 Düsseldorf) regards the facility as a model for carpet recycling in Europe. Proof that PA can be recycled economically and in an environmentally-compatible manner is of key importance for DSM´s recycling project in Europe. He also made an offer to competitors: “I would like to stress that we are prepared to co-operate with other groups engaged in the recycling of carpet waste. The joint use of resources – and this also includes technologies – generally brings advantages”. The potential background here: Polyamid 2000 AG, in which the Lurgi Group has a controlling interest, is planning to construct a similar-sized PA carpet recycling facility in Premnitz.