Dutch startup DOPS Recycling Technologies has secured €5 million in seed funding to scale its Direct Carbon Immobilisation (DCI) technology, designed to process waste into usable raw materials while minimizing CO2 emissions. Based in Alkmaar, DOPS aims to tackle the environmental impact of traditional waste incineration by converting mixed waste streams into syngas and other chemical inputs for industrial purposes. The funding will support the construction of a modular system to validate the technology on a commercial scale. Global efforts to lower industrial emissions and reduce waste disposal costs are driving interest in such low-emission recycling methods.
In previous coverage, DOPS had received early-stage support from climate innovation programs but operated primarily in pilot phases. The company had not yet secured large-scale investment or demonstrated full modular deployment. Now, with the participation of major funds like Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund and ROM InWest, the company moves closer to commercialization. At a time when CO2 pricing and circular economy regulations tighten across Europe, scalable waste-to-resource solutions like DCI draw increasing investor focus.
How does DOPS’ gasification process work?
The DCI process involves heating organic waste and biomass to 1,000°C in an oxygen-free environment, breaking down hydrocarbons into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These substances are then turned into syngas, which can be used for producing industrial heat, methanol, and sustainable fuels. According to the company, the process diverts over 90% of material from incineration or landfill and enables its integration into industrial supply chains. The system is designed to handle diverse input streams economically, even at lower volumes, thanks to high-efficiency heat recovery and durable refractory materials.
What are the next steps for DOPS following this funding round?
The seed funding enables DOPS to construct a modular Direct Carbon Immobilisation unit (M-DCI) for operational testing. The results will help the company make a final investment decision about building a full-scale processing plant. These modular units are intended to demonstrate viability to customers and scale production capacity. DOPS also plans to expand the use of syngas into more industrial verticals, deepening its role in decarbonizing energy and chemical production processes.
Each year, about eight million tons of waste are incinerated in the Netherlands, releasing nearly equivalent levels of CO2. DOPS seeks to serve as an alternative to incineration, offering a low-emission method of recovering raw materials. By producing carbon-based industrial products and fuels, the company aligns its services with broader goals of reducing fossil dependency and enhancing supply chain circularity.
“The transition to sustainable energy and a circular economy requires affordable green molecules that can compete with fossil resources for the industry and chemical sectors, along with more sustainable alternatives to waste incineration,” said Jesse In ’t Velt, Senior Investment Manager at the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund.
“Our technology ensures that waste is not the end, but the beginning of new, valuable resources. Thanks to this investment, we can scale up and contribute to the energy transition and a circular economy where reuse and efficient energy use become the norm,” stated Michiel Spits, CEO of DOPS Recycling Technologies.
DOPS has participated in programs such as the Green Chemistry Accelerator and received backing from Invest-NL and regional development agencies. These initiatives help companies scale pilot technologies to commercial production, particularly in the fields of circular chemistry and biobased material development. Through this support, DOPS is positioned to bring its DCI technology to markets seeking sustainable and scalable waste solutions.
The relevance of DOPS’ technology lies in its capacity to divert non-recyclable waste from landfills and incinerators while creating value-added products with a lower carbon footprint. As governments and industries look for alternatives to fossil-based production and disposal systems, modular gasification units can offer localized, low-emission processing options. However, commercial success will depend on proving consistent performance, meeting regulatory criteria, and ensuring cost competitiveness in existing industrial value chains. The next phase of implementation will reveal whether DOPS can meet these operational and economic benchmarks.
