Following a highly successful launch in New Orleans, we are proud to announce the 2026 edition of The Future of Advanced Recycling North America, taking place on the 17th and 18th June 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. Building on the momentum of the previous event, this year's conference will bring together the real decision-makers shaping the continent's circular plastics economy — from established recyclers and polymer producers to investors, brand owners, and policymakers.
With the advanced recycling sector now entering a critical phase of commercial scale-up, the 2026 agenda zeroes in on the issues that matter most: feedstock supply and pre-processing, regulatory clarity, investment confidence, and end-market development. Delegates will gain insights into how projects are being financed and permitted, where the most reliable feedstock streams are emerging, and how policy alignment between states and the federal level is influencing deployment.
The event's speaker line-up features leaders from across the value chain, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Nexus Circular, LyondellBasell, Amcor, and Closed Loop Partners, ensuring that every session reflects the latest operational experience and commercial realities. Case studies will explore both the successes and setbacks of first-wave projects, while new panels will address mass-balance transparency, EPR frameworks, and the evolving economics of recycled polymers versus virgin resin.
More than a conference, the Pittsburgh edition is designed as a strategic meeting point for recyclers, polymer producers, waste management firms, investors, and brand owners to collaborate on building a profitable and credible advanced recycling ecosystem. Through two days of high-level discussion and structured networking, attendees will leave with the contacts, insights, and partnerships needed to drive the next chapter of circular plastics in North America.
Key Topics
- Feedstock Supply & Pre-Processing
- Unpacking Key Shifts in Waste and Recycling Regulations
- Securing Long-Term Project Investment
- Technology Pathways & Innovation
- Market Development & Off-Takes
- Transparency & Credibility
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) & Plastics Taxes
- Collaboration & Value Chain Integration
- Brand & Corporate Engagement
- Industry Outlook & Global Competition
Who Will Attend?
- Advanced Recycling & Technology Developers
- Pyrolysis, gasification, depolymerization, and enzymatic recycling technology providers
- Modular and micro-plant system innovators
- Engineering, equipment, and pre-processing solution providers
- Petrochemical & Polymer Producers
- Refiners and integrated chemical companies developing circular polymer portfolios
- Feedstock buyers and polymer converters
- Brand Owners & Packaging Producers
- Consumer goods, retail, and packaging manufacturers seeking certified recycled content
- Corporate sustainability and circular economy teams
- Waste Management & Feedstock Suppliers
- Collection, MRF, and logistics operators
- Aggregators and brokers of post-consumer and post-industrial plastics
- Project Developers & Investors
- Infrastructure funds, private equity, and venture capital focused on circular technologies
- Project developers and EPCs financing or building new plants
- Policy, Regulatory & Certification Bodies
- State and federal environmental agencies
- Certification, standards, and auditing organizations (ISCC+, UL, SCS, etc.)
- Research & Advisory Organizations
- Industry analysts, consulting firms, and academic institutions driving innovation and data transparency
Site Visit
Shell Polymers is proud to offer certified circular polyethylene out of its 386-acre petrochemical complex in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The facility produces an estimated 1.6 million tonnes1 of polyethylene pellets for use in everyday products like common household goods, consumer and food packaging, industrial and utility products and more.
Before making its way to customers, Shell's polyethylene is rigorously tested for quality and product performance in the plant's 86,000-ft² Innovation Center, which features commercial-scale processing equipment and is home to 50+ knowledgeable industry experts. In this lab space, the Shell Polymers team conducts in-depth studies characterizing the mechanical, processing and visual properties of a polymer to help ensure the material is consistent and meets necessary standards.
Approximately 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, the plant was strategically built to be close to the majority of North American polyethylene buyers. As such, the Shell Polymers team welcomes customers who are interested in traveling to Monaca to visit the Innovation Center and work with our team in-person to raise operational performance, trial new product solutions, and collaborate on any issues that might arise.
