RewinPlast: New pilot plant to recover hard-to-recycle plastic residues

According to RewinPlast GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a pilot plant for processing previously difficult-to-recycle plastic residues is to be built at MTM Compact in Fürstenwalde, Germany. The process is designed to convert residual materials from mechanical plastics recycling into usable polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) fractions. The information is based on a company press release distributed via APA-OTS on July 14, 2026.

The plant combines chemical and physical treatment steps with sensor technology and AI-assisted material analysis. Plastic residues are sorted and cleaned, while contaminants such as PVC and elastomers are removed during the process. The recovered fractions are then intended to be processed into recyclates for the production of new plastic products.

Advert

The feedstock consists primarily of residual materials generated during the processing of packaging waste collected through Germany's Dual System. These material streams currently cannot usually be recycled mechanically and are instead predominantly used for energy recovery or other industrial applications.

At its Fürstenwalde site, MTM Compact currently processes such plastic waste into a coal and coke substitute for the steel industry. The pilot plant expands this recovery concept by adding a material recycling route. Suitable plastic fractions are to be returned to the production cycle as secondary raw materials.

The project follows approximately one year of development. In addition to RewinPlast and MTM Compact, entrepreneur Nancy Sanders is involved. During the pilot phase, the partners will evaluate process stability, throughput, material quality, and the economic viability of the technology.

Demand for high-quality recyclates is increasing due to stricter regulatory requirements for recycling rates and recycled content. Technologies capable of recovering previously underutilized residual fractions could therefore become increasingly important for plastics processors and recycling companies.

Following a successful pilot phase, the technology is expected to be scaled up for larger industrial plants and marketed internationally.

More information: rewinplast.com

RewinPlast GmbH, Wien, Österreich

back to news list