As many as 34.7 million problematic or unnecessary plastic items were diverted from landfills in a single year by an inspiring collaboration of leading local retailers and brands that belong to the innovative South African Plastics Pact. This, and other encouraging results, were announced in their recent annual report, showing strong progress in eliminating plastic waste. … [Read more...]
SA brands meeting plastic collection and recycling targets
Newly released data shows that several major South African brands are meeting targets when it comes to collecting and recycling the plastic packaging in which their products are sold, and keeping it out of the environment. The audited data was released on June 8 by the country’s longest-standing producer responsibility organisation (PRO), PETCO. It represents 2022 collection … [Read more...]
Four reasons to start recycling this Earth Day
Recycling is one of the easiest ways that citizens can ‘Invest in our Planet’, the theme of this year’s global Earth Day, 22 April. Unfortunately, research by the CSIR indicates that only around 10% of urban households actually do so. “Finding a reason to recycle is perhaps the first step in changing one’s attitude and behaviour,” says Samantha Choles, spokesperson for Fibre … [Read more...]
Waste sector income and plastic recycling on the rise
More than 40 local, district and provincial municipalities countrywide have benefitted from strategic sustainability partnerships in 2021/2 – not just improving waste collection and PET plastic recycling rates, but also creating much-needed income opportunities in the sector and helping develop South Africa’s circular economy. One such drive involves the Zonda Insila … [Read more...]
Over 2 billion plastic bottles recovered for recycling in SA
Statistics from South Africa’s longest-standing plastics producer responsibility organisation indicate that the country’s PET plastic recycling rates are recovering after the lockdown regulations resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to figures released at the PET Recycling Company’s (PETCO) annual general meeting in June, 2.1 billion PET bottles were diverted from … [Read more...]
Waste reclaimers making an impact on Ermelo
Despite all odds and the challenges brought about by Covid-19, Johanna, the owner of Bophelo buy-back centre and her team of waste reclaimers were able to make grass-roots impact in Ermelo, by improving the lives and livelihood of community members while making a positive improvement on the environment. When Safripol in partnership with PETCO was announced as the winner of … [Read more...]
Upcycling pop bottles for a better night’s sleep
Take another look at that empty bottle of fizzy pop you just threw into your recycling bag. Tonight it could be part of your mattress – if you make the right choices. The problem of plastic pollution is becoming more urgent every day. According to the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), over 82 metric tonnes of PET are used every year to … [Read more...]
Saldanha Bay initiative links recycling to feeding scheme
In the Saldanha Bay Municipality there is a new initiative to encourage lower-income areas to participate more in recycling by feeding hungry children in return. Since 2016, the Saldanha Bay Municipality’s kerbside recycling collection service has been running well, reaching over 40% participation of households in middle and upper-income suburbs. However, in high-density, … [Read more...]
Mauritius’ plastic regulations could have unintended results
The government of Mauritius have proposed bold new measures to curb plastic waste. While the intentions behind the mooted regulations are commendable, We-Recycle Mauritius are firmly of the view that the proposed new policies for the management of PET Plastic Waste, if implemented as per the timelines, logistics and technicalities, could have a negative impact on the various … [Read more...]
Food-grade rPET facility expands processing capacity
Extrupet has finalised the expansion of its food-grade recycled PET plant, increasing the current processing capacity from 20 000 to over 30 000 tonnes per annum, to facilitate the growing demand for rPET. As PETCO continues to believe that growth in rPET production and consumption is ultimately key to ensuring the sustainability of both the PET and recycling industry, rPET … [Read more...]
Clarity needed on biodegradable and compostable plastics
“Bioplastics” is a term that frequently arises in the media and public domain, and is often touted as the answer to the plastic pollution problem. Unfortunately, the term is often incorrectly used to describe a few different concepts, which can create a lot of confusion in the marketplace. Plastics can be made from either fossil-based (derived from petrochemicals) or … [Read more...]
What does producer responsibility mean for your business?
The impending Section 18 regulations of the Waste Act are set to permanently alter the operating landscape for many South African industries – with a significant shift from voluntary to mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR means producers will be legally obligated to take financial and/or operational responsibility for collecting, sorting and treating their … [Read more...]
Post-consumer PET rates holding steady despite pandemic
In a time when we can all use some good news, PETCO’s PET bottle-to-bottle recycling partner, Extrupet, reported purchasing a whopping 3,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET bottles in May and June this year. This is significant because cold beverage consumption usually drops during the winter months and, according to Extrupet, a good figure under normal circumstances would be … [Read more...]
