Waste management bringing sustainability into the mainstream

The PET Recycling Company (Pty) Ltd (PETCO) was proud to play a part in the Better Together Games hosted by Western Cape Government (WCG) on Friday 25 October 2013. The event, hosted at the University of the Western Cape campus, attracted close on 10 000 officials and is one of the most popular and well attended events on the Western Cape Government calendar.

This event generates huge volumes of waste and it is for this reason that the WCG developed and implemented a waste management plan for the event. The WCG’s internal 2wise2waste Resource Efficiency Programme in conjunction with the University of the Western Cape waste management services and recycling industry representative bodies were behind the implementation thereof.

The main purpose of the plan was to ensure that the generation and impact of waste at the event was minimised in alignment with the strategic objectives of the province i.e. “mainstreaming sustainability and optimizing resource use efficiency”. The recycling opportunities also contributed towards the growth of the “Green Economy”.

In realising the goals of the WCG, for the event, the Western Cape Recycling Action Group clubbed together with infrastructure provision and support to maximise the recovery of recyclables on the day. PETCO supplied a number of yellow wheelie bins for the recovery of PET beverage bottles, which, with the assistance of PlasticsSA were serviced by WastePlan.

“It is laudable to see the Western Cape Government walking the talk and considering waste management and recycling as well as sustainability principles when hosting their in house events” said Cheri Scholtz, CEO of PETCO.

The principles entrenched in the National Waste Management Act and Strategy were internalised and given consideration at the event. Waste avoidance was high on the agenda, with packaging minimised by vendors and event goers being encouraged to bring their own reusable plates and cups/glasses.

The principles of reduction and reuse were also supported, and recycling of packaging being optimised with separation at source infrastructure and bins placed at various points to encourage responsible consumption and disposal of waste.

“PET is globally recognized as a safe, lightweight, energy efficient, recyclable packaging material. Most single-serve plastic bottles, including those for water, soft drinks and juices, are made with PET, and where there is support and infrastructure in place for recycling, PET beverage bottles can be recycled and beneficially reused in a wide variety of products including fibre and new packaging” says Scholtz.

“We are increasingly seeing PET being a pack of choice for beverage consumption at large events and for this reason PETCO encourages the inclusion of recycling infrastructure as part of the planning and implementation of such events” she added.

PETCO is pleased to announce that post-consumer plastic beverage bottle recycling volumes in South Africa grew by 18% year on year in 2012. The recycling rate rose from 42% in 2011 to 45% in 2012, whilst the local market consumption of PET grew from 145 000 to 166 000 tonnes.