Norway’s New National Plastic Sorting Facility, Områ, Begins Commissioning Phase
After two years of development, Norway’s new national plastic sorting facility — Områ — is reaching a major milestone. Located in Holtskogen and jointly owned by TOMRA Feedstock and Plastretur, the facility will begin its warm commissioning process on April 28, with the first bale of plastic waste set to enter the system.
Områ is a uniquely Norwegian name, both in sound and meaning. Pronounced “ohm-rauw,” it reflects the facility’s mission to rethink how plastic is handled. The name combines “om” (meaning “about” or “around”) and “rå” (“raw”), symbolizing a renewed approach to resource management. It also directly translates to “rethink” or “reconsider” — fitting for a facility dedicated to transforming waste into new raw materials.Områ evokes powerful associations aligned with our vision,” said Joachim N. Amland, Senior Vice President and Head of TOMRA Feedstock. “It’s the perfect name for Norway’s first national facility dedicated to capturing all types of plastic waste and turning it into valuable feedstock for new products.
The facility is equipped with TOMRA’s most advanced sensor technology and machine learning systems, allowing it to sort plastic waste into high-purity monofractions suitable for recycling. This advanced sorting capability is critical to increasing plastic recycling rates and enabling closed-loop systems.TOMRA Feedstock is excited to optimize the facility’s performance over the summer as we ramp up operations,” Amland added. “We strongly encourage municipalities across Norway to direct as much plastic waste as possible to Områ.
Designed to play a central role in Norway’s circular economy, the facility represents a significant step toward national self-sufficiency in managing plastic waste. It will serve as a cornerstone in the country’s recycling infrastructure, while also inspiring further investment in the recycling sector.
The visual identity and name of Områ were developed in collaboration with Cretalux, an Oslo-based design agency. Line Støtvig, General Manager of Cretalux, explained: “Our goal was to find a distinctive Norwegian name that captured the essence of the facility’s mission — to see plastic waste as a resource. The meaning of Områ — to think anew — reflects that perfectly. Including the Norwegian letter ‘å’ was also a subtle nod to circularity and local identity.”
As Norway prepares to officially launch Områ, the facility stands as a bold example of how innovative design, cutting-edge technology, and cross-sector collaboration can help build a more sustainable future.
About TOMRA Feedstock
TOMRA Feedstock is part of TOMRA Horizon, the venture arm set up by TOMRA Group to explore new adjacent business opportunities and alternative business models leveraging the TOMRA Group’s technology and decades of know-how. The focus of TOMRA Feedstock is to provide a new approach toward closing the circularity gap for plastics by recovering mixed plastics being lost today to incineration or landfill. By sourcing and sorting plastic material from the residual waste stream, TOMRA Feedstock provides a complementary service for recyclers, providing plastic feedstock of pure monofractions that can be further processed and sold to plastic packaging producers.
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