Method for degassing polymer melts and for neutralising the pollutants formed thereby, comprising the following method steps: - a low pressure or a vacuum is generated by means of a vacuum system, - the low pressure or vacuum is fed to a degassing zone in which the polymer melt is situated, - the pollutants in the form of waste gases or waste gases and liquid and/or solid components removed or withdrawn from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2) by the vacuum system are separated in a downstream filtering stage and/or a separator (4; 4.1, 4.2), - after being removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2), the pollutants are fed to a plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which is so constructed and/or designed that the pollutants are converted wholly or in part into a plasma state of aggregation in the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4), - after being removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2), the pollutants are fed to the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) before being fed to a filter or to a separator (4; 4.1, 4.2), - process gases including external air, water vapour, and/or carbon dioxide are fed to the pollutants, characterised by the following further features: - the pollutants removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2) and fed to the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) are conveyed via a pipeline system which is heated to at least 150°C in order to avoid deposits, - individual or a plurality of plasma sources (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which can be connected in or shut off via switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) provided in degassing lines are used,and - the switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) are connected upstream and downstream of the plasma sources (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) in the form of parallel switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) with different flow cross sections. - a low pressure or a vacuum is generated by means of a vacuum system, - the low pressure or vacuum is fed to a degassing zone in which the polymer melt is situated, - the pollutants in the form of waste gases or waste gases and liquid and/or solid components removed or withdrawn from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2) by the vacuum system are separated in a downstream filtering stage and/or a separator (4; 4.1, 4.2), - after being removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2), the pollutants are fed to a plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which is so constructed and/or designed that the pollutants are converted wholly or in part into a plasma state of aggregation in the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4), - after being removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2), the pollutants are fed to the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) before being fed to a filter or to a separator (4; 4.1, 4.2), - process gases including external air, water vapour, and/or carbon dioxide are fed to the pollutants, - the pollutants removed from the degassing zone (VD; VD1, VD2) and fed to the plasma source (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) are conveyed via a pipeline system which is heated to at least 150°C in order to avoid deposits, - individual or a plurality of plasma sources (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) which can be connected in or shut off via switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) provided in degassing lines are used,and - the switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) are connected upstream and downstream of the plasma sources (2; 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) in the form of parallel switch valves (A.1, A.2, B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, F.1, F.2) with different flow cross sections. <EOS>