Andritz, Circ to develop first large-scale textile recycling plant

Andritz has secured an engineering contract from Circ, a U.S.-based innovator in textile recycling, to support the development of its first large-scale recycling facility. The upcoming facility will be the first to efficiently recycle both cotton and polyester from blended textile waste.

Blended fabrics, especially polyester-cotton blends, dominate fashion waste and pose a significant challenge for circular recycling process. Circ’s advanced technology can break down these blends into their original components—cotton and polyester. The planned plant will process 200 tons of textile waste daily, converting cotton for lyocell fiber production and reusing polyester for new fabric creation.

“With Andritz’s expertise in large-scale engineering, we are excited to commercialize Circ’s innovative recycling process and move closer to a circular fashion industry,” said Conor Hartman, COO of Circ.

Michael Waupotitsch, Vice President of Textile Recycling at Andritz, stated, “Circ’s technology is uniquely designed to address one of the biggest challenges in textile waste recycling. With our expertise in fiber resizing, mechanical separation, and hydrothermal processes, we are committed to supporting their goal of turning textile waste into reusable fibers on an industrial scale.”