Industrial prototypes for the pyrolysis of used tyres and waste plastic materials. The increasing amounts of old tyres and waste plastics are creating problems regarding their disposal and recycling. Such wastes, however, can be converted by pyrolysis into almost residue‐free organic raw materials. Various processes, particularly for the pyrolysis of old tyres, are described which have been tested in Japan, the USA, Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany. In indirectly heated fluidized sand beds whole automobile tyres can be decomposed to give up to 20 wt‐% gas, 30 wt‐% aromatics, 40 wt‐% carbon black, and 10 wt‐% steel scrap.