Germany’s plastics recycling landscape is undergoing a new test with Tubis Group’s pyrolysis facility in Plauen, which began commissioning recently after years of technical development and regulatory approvals.
The site is slated for continuous operation by Q3 2025, marking one of the first industrial-scale applications of the company’s patented recycling technology.
The plant targets a key gap in the circular economy: mixed plastic waste streams that are still largely sent to incineration or landfills. According to the European Environment Agency, nearly 60% of post-consumer plastic waste in the EU is either burned for energy recovery or discarded, with only around 35% mechanically recycled. Pyrolysis, which breaks down polymers at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, is often presented as a way to convert non-recyclable plastics into feedstocks that can re-enter the value chain.
Tubis’ process is designed for controllability and scalability, with operational temperatures reaching 570°C. The company claims the system can run cleanly with minimal residues—an important factor, given that many pyrolysis projects face criticism over emissions profiles and questionable carbon balances. By focusing on continuous throughput rather than batch processing, Tubis is also aiming at cost efficiency, a persistent barrier for commercial deployment.
Capacity is a central metric: the Plauen site, alongside a second facility already under construction in Nobitz, is designed for 24,500 tonnes of substitute fuels and plastic waste per year. For context, Germany generated more than 6.3 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2021, according to PlasticsEurope. Even with four approved Tubis facilities, the total contribution would remain a fraction of national waste flows, raising questions about scalability beyond pilot clusters.
Still, Tubis is positioning its technology as adaptable, with an in-house team developing site-specific adjustments. Such flexibility may be key to regulatory approval, as Germany’s Federal Environment Agency has tightened scrutiny of pyrolysis projects, requiring demonstrable climate benefits before integration into national recycling quotas.
