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New pyrolysis miracle in Nobitz: crude oil from plastic waste!
On August 27, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony took place in Nobitz for a pyrolysis plant that converts plastic waste into crude oil and creates 15 jobs.
New pyrolysis miracle in Nobitz: crude oil from plastic waste!
What is happening in the Nobitz industrial area? On August 27, 2025, the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony took place here for a new pyrolysis plant that will be built by Tubis AG from Munich. In addition to District Administrator Uwe Melzer and board member Robert Ferstl, the mayor of Nobitz, Hendrik Läbe, also took part in the ceremony. Not only was the ambitious construction project launched, but a time capsule was also buried - a sign of the future.
The facility will be built on an area of around 18,000 square meters and is expected to have a recycling capacity of around 25,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste per year. With this step, Tubis AG would like to make a contribution to the circular economy and thus promote sustainability. The official approval was granted on December 20, 2024 by the district office's pollution control authority and corresponds to the requirements of the Federal Immission Control Act.
Energy from the waste pyramid
The planned pyrolysis plant uses an innovative technology that makes it possible to extract high-quality crude oil from plastic waste. The entire process takes place continuously and requires process temperatures of up to 570°C. This not only creates valuable raw materials, but also makes a significant contribution to reducing the global CO2 footprint. Tubis is investing around 15 million euros in the construction of this environmentally friendly facility, which should be operational in around a year.
“We have a good knack for pioneering technologies that help tackle the plastic problem,” said Robert Ferstl, commenting on the investment. The pyrolysis plant in Nobitz will not work alone, as a similar pilot plant in Plauen has already been put into operation.
Pioneer of the circular economy
Tubis AG is a real model in the industry. Founded in 2015, the company specializes in the development and operation of continuous pyrolysis systems on an industrial scale. The aim is to minimize plastic-based incineration waste and provide sustainable recyclates. This means that valuable raw materials can not only be extracted, but also returned to the production cycle.
An important aspect of pyrolysis is the complete recycling of mixed plastic waste. Conventional mechanical recycling technologies often reach their limits, especially when it comes to the quality of the recyclates. Here, Tubis' innovative pyrolysis technology offers a resource-saving solution that can even compete with other processes such as the catalytic recycling of polycarbonates developed at the Fraunhofer Society. This process promises to recover high-quality molecules from difficult-to-recycle plastics and thus further optimize the recycling process.
Pyrolysis allows up to 60 percent of the original components of the plastic to be recovered and thus ensures a reduced need for fossil raw materials. The platform chemicals obtained - such as styrene and phenol - play a crucial role in the chemical industry and could thus take conventional methods of plastic recycling to a new level.
Overall, the new pyrolysis plant is an example of a step towards a more environmentally friendly future. As construction progresses, it remains to be seen how the industry will respond to this innovation. The challenges are great, but with sustainability in focus, Tubis AG also has a good hand for the future.