Plastic waste pyrolysis has become one of the most promising routes to solve a problem that conventional recycling cannot address: what to do with plastic that cannot be mechanically recycled. In this article we explain what it is, how it works and why it represents a shift in waste management.

What is plastic waste pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process that transforms plastic materials in the absence of oxygen. By heating the waste to high temperatures (typically between 400 and 600 °C) without combustion, the long polymer chains break down and reorganise into smaller, usable molecules.

Unlike incineration, the plastic is not burned: it is broken down in a controlled way to recover its material and energy value. This is why pyrolysis is considered a form of chemical recycling, complementary to mechanical recycling and able to treat waste that today ends up in landfill.

How the process works step by step

  • Waste preparation: the material is sorted, shredded and dried to ensure a homogeneous, stable feed.
  • Heating without oxygen: inside the reactor, the plastic reaches pyrolysis temperature in an inert atmosphere that prevents combustion.
  • Cracking of the molecules: the polymer chains break and release hydrocarbon-rich vapours.
  • Condensation and separation: these vapours are cooled and separated into liquid, gas and solid fractions.

Which products are obtained

The process yields a set of products with industrial value:

  • Pyrolysis oil: a fuel-like liquid that can be used as feedstock for new products or as an energy source.
  • Non-condensable gas: usually reused to power the process itself, reducing external energy consumption.
  • Char (carbonaceous residue): a solid fraction with potential industrial applications.

In this way, waste that used to be a cost becomes a usable resource.

Pyrolysis versus landfill

The European regulatory framework is pushing hard towards alternatives to landfilling. Directive (EU) 2018/850 sets that, by 2035, a maximum of 10 % of municipal waste may be sent to landfill, and introduces restrictions from 2030 on landfilling waste suitable for recycling or recovery. Added to this is a steadily rising landfill cost per tonne.

In this context, pyrolysis offers a technical and economic outlet for plastic rejects, reducing dependence on landfill and generating local resources.

The Nantek approach

At Nantek we don’t sell a reactor: we structure a complete business around plastic waste recovery. Our integrated model combines engineering, financing, operation and a guaranteed offtake of the product, with a range of modular plants that adapts to each waste volume and sector.

Want to know whether your waste stream is viable for a pyrolysis plant? Contact our team for an initial assessment.