South Africa is winning the battle to recycle plastic bottles and more PET plastic bottles are now being recycled than being sent to landfill, according to new statistics.
This milestone has just been reached, according to PETCO, the national industry body responsible for managing PET plastic recycling in South Africa.
In 2015, 52% of post-consumer PET plastic bottles, that’s around 74,000 tonnes, were collected for recycling in South Africa. Figures for 2016 are projected to increase to 54%.
Some more encouraging statistics from PETCO:
- 52% of post consumer PET bottles were recycled, more than went into landfills. This is the first time this happened.
- Sustainable employment opportunities for 50,000 people have been created.
- R275m has been invested in support of recycling projects.
- R1.2bn. has been paid to PET collectors by recyclers.
- PETCO has been the catalyst for R1bn. of investment in infrastructure development.
- PETCO facilitated R3.5bn. of value into the downstream economy.
- 4.7 million PET bottles are recycled per day in South Africa (according to 2015 statistics).
- 112,000 tonnes of carbon were saved as a result of PET recycling in 2015.
- 461,000 metres cubed of landfill were saved as a result of PET recycling in 2015.
Cheri Scholtz, CEO of PETCO, says, “PETCO is delighted that for the eleventh consecutive year, the post-consumer PET bottle-recycling rate has increased, despite two of the biggest falls in oil prices seen in recent years.”
“Recycling PET bottles over the last twelve years has saved a total of 651 000 tons of carbon and avoided using 2.7 million m3 of landfill space,” she continues.
Also commenting on the news, Dr Casper Durandt, Franchise Technical Director for Coca-Cola Southern and East Africa, said, “The Coca-Cola Company and our bottling partners in South Africa are truly proud of what PETCO has accomplished. PETCO is the entity that facilitates brand owners in fulfilling our Extended Producer Responsibility.”
“The unique PETCO model in South Africa is a recognised world best practice in sustainable funding, collection and local recycling of plastic beverage containers in the Coca-Cola System.”
Over 50,000 sustainable income opportunities have been created through the activities of the PETCO network of recycling. Training, skills transfer and entrepreneurial upliftment and development have all been enhanced through the PET recycling industry.
The economic benefits of PET recycling have resulted in payments of R1.2 billion to collectors of PET bottles by the contracted recycling companies. R1 billion worth of infrastructure has been created and R3.5 billion of value has been injected into the downstream economy.
Tom McLaughlin, head of responsible sourcing for Woolworths Foods commented, “With PETCO’s assistance, Woolworths has been able to close the loop and reuse thousands of tons of recycled plastic in its food packaging.”
“We are also using more and more recycled PET in our clothing and home textiles. It’s part of our Good Business Journey to reduce our impact on the planet.”
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