Zhejiang COMY Environmental Technology launched its waste plastic-to-propylene chemical recycling pilot at the Yanzhao Green Chemical Laboratory in Cangzhou, Hebei, China, on Oct. 16, 2026, according to a report published Oct. 19.
The PTP process uses selective catalytic cracking and olefin recombination to handle mixed, contaminated waste polyolefins without intensive pre-washing, in contrast to mechanical recycling, which requires carefully sorted, clean feedstock. The process yields high-purity propylene plus co-products including aromatics and light hydrocarbons.
To address the geographic dispersion of waste plastic, COMY has developed an "N+1" model: distributed facilities near waste sources perform local pretreatment and pyrolysis, while a centralized facility upgrades intermediate oils into high-value chemicals. The Cangzhou pilot validates the centralized "1" stage.
Regulatory momentum is driving demand for recycled content. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, applicable since August 2026, mandates minimum recycled content in plastic packaging from 2030, and the UK Plastic Packaging Tax applies to packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic, with chemically recycled plastic counting toward the threshold from April 2027.
