DOE reinstates $375M Eastman recycling award

The U.S. Department of Energy reinstated a $375 million award to Eastman Chemical for an updated domestic recycling investment plan; the amount excludes about $35 million already received for design and engineering. The plan calls for expanding the company’s Kingsport, Tennessee, methanolysis facility by about 30%, restarting or repurposing underused U.S. recycling infrastructure, and preparing for a potential second facility with flexibility on its location and timing. Eastman says the investments will strengthen the domestic supply chain for collecting and processing polyester waste and producing recycled materials, with spending to proceed in stages aligned with customer demand.