ASSOCIATION NEWS//
Plastics recycling figures released for 2018 Compared to 2017, plastics recycling grew by 6.7 percent. Although more can be done to encourage South African households to recycle, Plastics|SA says the results show our country has a dynamic, growing and wellsupported plastics recycling industry.
D
espite facing major
and created a further 58 500 income
challenges in 2018, the
generating jobs.
plastics industry has made important strides. More than
R2.3 billion rand was injected into the informal sector through the purchasing
519 370t of plastics waste was collected
of recyclable plastics waste. A total of
for recycling in South Africa, which is one
70 percent of all recyclable materials
of the best mechanical recyclers in the
originated from landfill and other post-
world with 46.3 percent of plastics waste
consumer sources.
collected for recycling last year.
Despite 34.1 percent of South Africans
Anton Hanekom, executive director
not having access to regular waste
at Plastics|SA, explains: ‘Plastic bags
removal, our country is still in a slightly
manufacturers removed fillers to
better position than many of the first world
produce fully recyclable bags. In
countries desperate to find solutions for
addition, 100 percent certified recycled
their growing waste problems. This is
plastic material is now used to produce
after China and other Asian countries
some carrier bags. This creates
closed their borders for waste imports.
an end-market for recycled
In South Africa, the bulk of
plastic products and helps reduce waste to landfill. By ensuring the products we create become part of a circular economy, we create a win-win situation for the environment and
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collected waste is recycled locally into raw materials.
Less than five percent of collected recyclables in South Africa is shipped to processors outside of the country.
an industry that employs 60 000 people.’
Recommendations for the future In order to ensure the value of plastics is repeatedly harvested and a sustainable,
growing circular economy developed, Plastics|SA recommends
Recycling survey key findings
South Africa’s waste infrastructure
In 2018, South Africa converted
be improved. Used plastics need to
1 876 250t of polymer into plastics
be collected and removed from the
products, increasing the 2017 conversion
environment. An adequate waste
rate by 4.9 percent. To complement virgin
management infrastructure (able to
polymer, 352 000t of new recycled plastic
deal with recyclable as well as non-
raw material was manufactured, marking
recyclable waste) must be developed
a 12.2 percent increase year on year.
and implemented at municipalities.
Since 2009, recycled tonnages have
Contaminants in the waste stream
grown by 64 percent and virgin polymer
must be reduced. Plastics recycling
by 21 percent.
can continue to grow through
The amount of plastics recycled in
collaborative effort to reduce the
South Africa during 2018 alone saved
contaminants in the incoming waste
enough oil to fuel 200 000 cars for one
stream, e.g. compostable and
year – traveling 30 000km per annum.
biodegradable material.
Last year, plastics recycling saved 246
Recyclers need to be assisted to
000t of CO2. This is the equivalent of
overcome challenges within their
emissions from 51 200 cars.
recycling operations.
South Africa has 300 active recyclers
Alternatives must be developed for
of which 20 percent are responsible for
difficult to recycle plastics. Certain
70 percent of the tonnages reported. The
materials and plastic products are
plastics recycling industry provided direct
not economically viable to collect,
employment to more than 7 800 people
transport or recycle. Solutions need to
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| SEPTEMBER 2019 | P C Review
be developed for these difficult to recycle materials.
A workable and relevant plan Top priorities driving the future strategy of the plastics industry are designing plastic packaging with recyclability in mind and gaining access to good quality recyclable materials before they end up in landfill. A South African initiative to end plastic waste in the environment was recently established. Representatives of the plastics and packaging industries, raw material suppliers, converters, brand owners, international FMCG companies, recyclers and environmental organisations are developing a workable plan that fits the South African context and its environmental, socio-political and economic realities. ‘Recyclables are a valuable resource and should be removed from the solid waste stream before reaching landfill where they become contaminated and extraction is costly. Stakeholders have to work together to manufacture locally, process efficiently and manage the end of life products to benefit the consumer, industry and the planet,’ Hanekom concludes. •
Visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za to download a copy of the executive summary of the 2018 national plastics recycling survey.
