A method for the manufacture of container preforms in which recycled plastic material is subjected to at least one heat treatment in a recycling machine before it is transferred to a preform machine, where at least a major portion of heat introduced into the plastic material during its heat treatment and storage is transferred from the recycling machine with the plastic material into the preform machine. In a plant embodied for carrying out the method, the recycling machine is coupled with the preform machine either directly or via at least one intermediate storage such that at least a major portion of heat introduced in the recycling machine during a heat treatment of the plastic material can be transferred with the plastic material into the preform machine.