Recycling SMMEs around South Africa recently received an early Christmas gift which will aid them in their hard work to rid the environment of plastic pollution. The gifts came in the form of 1,500 recycling bulk bags collectively worth R130,000 and were thanks not to Saint Nick, but rather to Safripol – a national company which manufactures high-density polyethylene and … [Read more...]
Plans to up the recycling of polystyrene
The Polystyrene Association of South Africa unveiled exciting plans to increase the collection and recycling rate of post-consumer polystyrene. “We have had phenomenal success with our various recycling projects over the last 11 years. During the 2017-2018 financial year, more than 6 300 tons of polystyrene were successfully diverted from our country’s landfills. When … [Read more...]
Sustainable rPET strapping another boost for plastic recycling in SA
In a growing industry shift towards sustainable packaging and product design, one of South Africa’s largest manufacturers of wood-based products has decided to use only locally sourced and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) strapping. According to PG Bison’s chief executive officer, Gerhard Victor, the company uses 9.1 million metres of plastic strapping per annum to … [Read more...]
Pretoria sweeps clean in record-breaking school recycling programme
Pretoria claimed top spot at the Coca-Cola Beverages SA Schools Recycling Awards on Thursday, with schools from the capital city winning the coveted prize in both the high school and primary school categories. Kgadime Matsepe Secondary School and Tshiluvhi Primary School were declared the winners after collecting a total of 44.2 tonnes and 64.8 tonnes respectively in the … [Read more...]
SA broke PET plastic recycling record last year
Despite tough trading conditions and a 13% fall in the total PET market, the South African plastic industry recycled a record 2.15 billion PET plastic bottles in 2017, setting a post-consumer recycling rate of 65% to put the country on par with international standards. The 93 235 tonnes of collected PET exceeded the industry target of 58% for the year 2017 and created 64 000 … [Read more...]
Wildlands praise recycling efforts in Colesberg
A group of nine hard-working residents in Colesberg (Northern Cape) signed up as Wildlands’ Waste-preneurs in 2016 with a goal of keeping their communities clean and green, while providing for their families. Continuous efforts made by this group have resulted in them forming a company known as A9. This allows them to be formally recognised as a business and draw more attention … [Read more...]
What happens to your waste after you throw it away?
Ever wonder what actually happens to your waste after you throw it in the rubbish bin? The truth is, most of the waste we throw into rubbish bins end up in one of South Africa’s strained landfill sites. A more sustainable and environmentally-friendly option would be to start recycling. Where does the process of recycling start? Recycling starts in your home when the … [Read more...]
The future of plastics
It all starts with one. One bottle. One Consumer. And essentially one core message – we only have one world and it’s up to all of us to look after it. One type of plastic that is recycled more than any other in this country is PET, thanks to PETCO, who celebrates its 12th Anniversary this year. They have worked with the plastics industry, community members, … [Read more...]
An important time of year to be mindful of waste
Most of us will generate 25 percent more waste during the holidays as compared to the rest of the year. During the excitement of the holidays, it’s easy to forget about the extra waste that is generated and how everyone can play an important part in reducing its impact on landfills. When it comes to trimming waste and conserving resources, recycling plastic bottles is an … [Read more...]
Producers to take responsibility for waste created
Who is responsible for packaging materials lying around in the environment? How can we best curb this dilemma, which seems to be growing by the day? One solution is the principle of EPR, or Extended Producer Responsibility. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines extended producer responsibility (EPR ) as ‘an environmental policy approach in … [Read more...]
New recycling centre a hit with kids and community
A novel approach to eco-friendly service delivery in the community of Mapleton is encouraging recycling, growing entrepreneurs and providing a lifeline for many. PETCO have been instrumental in establishing and contributing to the long term viability of the Phumula Buy-Back Centre in Mapleton, Gauteng. The Buy-Back Centre, which is combined with a Coca-Cola Southern Africa … [Read more...]
Clean-up crews help keep Two Oceans world’s most beautiful race
All the waste from the recent Two Oceans marathon was quickly collected, sorted into categories and sent for recycling. The majority of the waste (90 %) was plastic waste (mainly Low Density Polyethylene) used for the energy drink sachets, 8 % was paper (primarily cardboard), and 2 % was metal. 2015 is the 9th year that the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon has received … [Read more...]
Empowering waste collectors in the North West
Collectors of recyclable waste are being trained to build sustainable businesses. PETCO, in partnership with the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) and Ngaka Modiri Molemo District Municipality, recently convened a collectors’ workshop in Mafikeng. The aim of the workshop was to give collectors information they need to build sustainable businesses through … [Read more...]
