Advancing Plastic Waste Circularity Through Modular Portable Pyrolysis Systems
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Results
2.1. Quantified Outputs and Product Value
2.2. Environmental Benefits of Decentralized Circular Integration
3. Discussion
4. Materials and Methods
4.1. Fundamentals of Plastic Pyrolysis
4.2. Containerized Solutions
4.3. Operational Definition and Process Framework
4.4. Design of Containerized Pyrolysis Unit
5. Conclusions
- Pyrolysis represents a treatment option for plastic fractions that are unsuitable for mechanical recycling due to contamination, degradation, or mixed composition.
- When implemented under controlled operational frameworks, it may provide conditional environmental benefits relative to landfilling or incineration by enabling partial recovery of hydrocarbon value from plastic waste.
- The liquid and gaseous products generated during pyrolysis have the potential to contribute to reduced reliance on virgin fossil resources when appropriate upgrading and quality control measures are applied.
- The proposed containerized configuration demonstrates conceptual feasibility for decentralized applications but requires further technical validation, economic evaluation, and environmental assessment before practical deployment.
- Conduct detailed life-cycle and techno-economic assessments to evaluate environmental and economic performance.
- Perform systematic risk assessments addressing emissions control, contaminant handling, and by-product management.
- Establish clear feedstock quality criteria and preprocessing guidelines through collaboration between waste suppliers and processing operators.
- Develop stable contractual frameworks that ensure consistent feedstock supply and operational continuity.
- Encourage policy and regulatory frameworks that support pilot projects, research, and controlled integration of chemical recycling technologies within existing waste management systems.
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviation
| CO2 | Carbon Dioxide |
| CO2e | Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
| UK | United Kingdom |
| EU | European Union |
| DEFRA | Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |
| HDPE | High-Density Polyethylene |
| LCA | Life Cycle Assessment |
| LDPE | Low-Density Polyethylene |
| MJ/kg | Megajoules per kilogram |
| MSW | Municipal Solid Waste |
| PE | Polyethylene |
| PET | Polyethylene Terephthalate |
| PP | Polypropylene |
| PS | Polystyrene |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride |
| wt% | Weight Percent |
| kg | Kilogram |
| L | Liters |
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| Product Fraction | Yield (wt%) | Storage System | Potential End Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrolysis Oil | ~75% | * Storage tanks (180 L) | Industrial heating facilities, small refineries [18] |
| Non-condensable Gas | ~15% | Pyrolytic gas collector tank (80 L) connected to burner system | Internal reactor heating, auxiliary heating systems [19] |
| Char/Solid Residue | ~10% | Bulk container sack 0.19 m3 | Cement plant construction materials [20] |
| Product | Daily Output (t/day) | Indicative Price (€/t) | Indicative Daily Value (€/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrolysis Oil | 1.69 | 523–784 | 883–1323 |
| Non-condensable Gas * | 0.34 | 180–250 | 59–88 |
| Char | 0.23 | - | - |
| Circularity Mechanism | Main Assumption | Indicative CO2 Saving (kg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Avoided import of external support gas for combustion | 0.18 t/day LPG equivalent not transported over 100 km | 1.62 |
| Avoided transport of plastic waste to centralized waste management | 2.25 t/day waste not transported 100 km | 20.25 |
| Replacement of bought LPG with local biomass pellets for start-up/support heating | 0.18 t/day LPG combustion avoided | 540.0 |
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Koumpakis, D.-A.; Christoforidis, D.; Diamantis, V.; Michailidou, A.V.; Vlachokostas, C. Advancing Plastic Waste Circularity Through Modular Portable Pyrolysis Systems. Recycling 2026, 11, 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11040067
Koumpakis D-A, Christoforidis D, Diamantis V, Michailidou AV, Vlachokostas C. Advancing Plastic Waste Circularity Through Modular Portable Pyrolysis Systems. Recycling. 2026; 11(4):67. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11040067
Chicago/Turabian StyleKoumpakis, Dimitrios-Aristotelis, Dimitrios Christoforidis, Vasileios Diamantis, Alexandra V. Michailidou, and Christos Vlachokostas. 2026. "Advancing Plastic Waste Circularity Through Modular Portable Pyrolysis Systems" Recycling 11, no. 4: 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11040067
APA StyleKoumpakis, D.-A., Christoforidis, D., Diamantis, V., Michailidou, A. V., & Vlachokostas, C. (2026). Advancing Plastic Waste Circularity Through Modular Portable Pyrolysis Systems. Recycling, 11(4), 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11040067

