Plastics recycling figures released for 2018

Despite facing major challenges in 2018, the plastics industry has made important strides. More than 519 370t of plastics waste was collected for recycling in South Africa, which is one of the best mechanical recyclers in the world with 46.3 percent of plastics waste collected for recycling last year.

Anton Hanekom, executive director at Plastics|SA, explains: ‘Plastic bags manufacturers removed fillers to produce fully recyclable bags. In addition, 100 percent certified recycled plastic material is now used to produce some carrier bags. This creates an end-market for recycled 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 an industry that employs 60 000 people.’

Recycling survey key findings

In 2018, South Africa converted 1 876 250t of polymer into plastics products, increasing the 2017 conversion rate by 4.9 percent. To complement virgin polymer, 352 000t of new recycled plastic raw material was manufactured, marking a 12.2 percent increase year on year.

Since 2009, recycled tonnages have grown by 64 percent and virgin polymer by 21 percent.

The amount of plastics recycled inSouth Africa during 2018 alone savedenough oil to fuel 200 000 cars for oneyear – traveling 30 000km per annum.Last year, plastics recycling saved 246000t of CO2. This is the equivalent ofemissions from 51 200 cars.

South Africa has 300 active recyclersof which 20 percent are responsible for70 percent of the tonnages reported. Theplastics recycling industry provided directemployment to more than 7 800 people

and created a further 58 500 incomegenerating jobs.

R2.3 billion rand was injected into theinformal sector through the purchasingof recyclable plastics waste. A total of70 percent of all recyclable materialsoriginated from landfill and other postconsumersources.

Despite 34.1 percent of South Africansnot having access to regular wasteremoval, our country is still in a slightlybetter position than many of the first worldcountries desperate to find solutions fortheir growing waste problems. This isafter China and other Asian countries

closed their borders for waste imports.In South Africa, the bulk of

collected waste is recycledlocally into raw materials.