Carbon Neutral in Talks for Puerto Rico Cruise Plastic-to-Oil Plant

Carbon Neutral LLC says it is in strategic collaboration discussions with EcoCreation LTD to deploy port-based advanced recycling facilities that would convert certain cruise ship plastic waste into pyrolysis oil across the Caribbean, starting with an initial site in Puerto Rico.

The companies frame the proposal as a way to handle “hard-to-recycle” plastics generated during cruise operations within regulated, shore-side waste pathways, rather than sending the material to landfill or risking mismanagement after it comes ashore.

Why cruise ship plastics remain difficult to manage

Cruise ships operate like self-contained communities, generating substantial volumes of solid waste while underway and during port calls. 4Ocean estimates a cruise ship can generate as much as eight tons of waste per vessel each week, with plastics from packaging, food-related containers, and other single-use items making up a notable portion.

The plastics targeted in the Carbon Neutral and EcoCreation concept are described as mixed, contaminated, and lower-value materials that can be poor candidates for conventional mechanical recycling. Those characteristics can limit downstream options once the waste is landed ashore, particularly in regions with constrained recycling capacity.

Regulatory context and the case for shore-side processing

The initiative is positioned around existing international rules governing garbage from ships, including the International Maritime Organization’s MARPOL Annex V. Annex V prohibits the discharge of plastics at sea and requires that plastic waste be retained onboard for delivery to appropriate reception facilities when vessels call on ports.

Carbon Neutral says the plan is designed to complement those compliance frameworks by placing processing capacity at or near ports, allowing plastics already being delivered through established port reception systems to have an additional end-of-life option.

How the proposed port-based system would work

Under the concept being evaluated, plastic waste would continue to be stored onboard and transferred to approved port reception systems, consistent with current practice. The difference is what happens next, with the companies proposing shore-side processing that would convert eligible plastics into pyrolysis oil using EcoCreation’s chemical pyrolysis platform.

Carbon Neutral says the facilities would operate under required permits and environmental controls, and are intended to fit into cruise port operations as an add-on to existing waste-handling processes, not as a replacement for them.

Puerto Rico’s role as the initial deployment site

Puerto Rico has been identified as the first location for deployment planning because it is a major Caribbean cruise hub with established port and logistics assets, and it operates under a U.S. regulatory framework. Carbon Neutral also points to the island’s regular cruise traffic as a reason it could support consistent volumes of plastic waste feedstock for a port-based processing model.

Puerto Rico is a port of call for multiple major cruise brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises.

Beyond the initial location, Carbon Neutral says it intends to expand to additional high-traffic Caribbean cruise ports after implementation, contingent on commercial agreements, permitting, financing, and site readiness.

Scale targets and projected output

Carbon Neutral says it envisions a network built over the next decade, with a stated goal of deploying up to 120 pyrolysis processing facilities at strategically selected ports throughout the Caribbean.

• Network size (stated target): Up to 120 facilities over the next decade, subject to permitting, financing, and final agreements.
• Processing capacity (stated target): As much as 300,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year across the network.
• Yield assumption: About 50% of processed plastic converted into pyrolysis oil, which implies roughly 150,000 metric tons of pyrolysis oil annually at the stated throughput.
• Barrel-equivalent estimate: Carbon Neutral equates the projected output to about one million barrels per year, while noting results would depend on feedstock composition and operating conditions.

What the pyrolysis oil would be used for

At commercial scale, Carbon Neutral says the pyrolysis oil is intended to function as a substitute or blending component for residual marine fuels, including Bunker C. The company adds that the material would need to be upgraded or blended to meet applicable fuel specifications.

The companies describe the objective as reducing reliance on fossil-derived marine fuel inputs by converting a portion of cruise-related plastic waste into a fuel-oriented output within maritime supply chains.

EcoCreation’s technology and what the companies are saying

EcoCreation LTD is described as a South Korea-based waste-to-fuel technology company focused on advanced plastic-to-oil chemical pyrolysis. Carbon Neutral says EcoCreation has deployed multiple commercial facilities and has demonstrated stable, continuous operation in industrial conditions, positioning the platform as an option for mixed plastic waste streams that are typically unsuitable for conventional recycling pathways.

Walter Hong, CEO of Carbon Neutral LLC, described the discussions as an infrastructure-focused response to maritime plastic waste challenges. “This partnership reflects a practical, infrastructure-driven response to one of the maritime industry’s most persistent waste challenges,” Hong said.

Hong added, “By focusing on port-based solutions and long-term investment, we aim to deploy durable infrastructure that operates at real scale, supporting compliance and improved waste-diversion outcomes for cruise operators and port communities across the Caribbean.”

No official statement from EcoCreation LTD, Puerto Rico port authorities, or the cruise lines that call in Puerto Rico was included in the available reports. Carbon Neutral has said Puerto Rico is the first planned location, with broader Caribbean expansion dependent on agreements, permits, financing, and site readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What types of cruise ship plastics are targeted by the proposed project?

The initiative focuses on mixed, contaminated, and low-value plastics that are difficult to process through mechanical recycling, including certain packaging materials and single-use items collected from cruise ship operations.

Why does the plan focus on ports rather than onboard processing?

The concept is designed around existing waste rules that require plastics to be retained onboard and delivered to approved port reception facilities. The proposed processing capacity would be shore-side infrastructure intended to work alongside established port reception processes.

Why was Puerto Rico selected as the first deployment site?

Carbon Neutral cites Puerto Rico’s role as a major Caribbean cruise hub, its established port and logistics assets, and the fact that it operates under a U.S. regulatory framework. The company also points to regular cruise traffic as support for consistent volumes of plastic waste feedstock.

What is pyrolysis oil, and how would it be used in maritime operations?

In the proposed system, eligible plastics would be converted through chemical pyrolysis into pyrolysis oil. Carbon Neutral says the oil is intended to be upgraded or blended to meet applicable specifications, then used as a substitute or blending component for residual marine fuels, including Bunker C.

How much pyrolysis oil could the planned network produce?

Carbon Neutral’s stated design target is to process up to 300,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year across up to 120 facilities over the next decade. Based on an estimated yield of about 50%, the company projects output of roughly 150,000 metric tons of pyrolysis oil annually, which it equates to about one million barrels per year depending on feedstock composition and operating conditions.