Maya Ellison
South Africa is making progress in recycling plastic, with 503,600 tons of plastic waste collected for recycling in one year, and recycled content making up 18% of locally converted polymers. The country has various organisations dedicated to recycling plastic, including the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation, Polyco, and Mpact Recycling, which is the leading recycler in the country, collecting around 700,000 tonnes of recyclables a year. Myplas, based in Cape Town, is a market leader in manufacturing recycled plastic compounds and is the only HDPE, LDPE, and PP Recycler in South Africa with ISO 9001:2015 certification. If you're based in South Africa and are looking to recycle your plastic, the Sustainable Sea Trust has an interactive map that shows collectors, recyclers, depots, and buy-back centres in most major centres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling rate | 45.7% |
| Amount of plastic waste collected for recycling | 503,600 tons |
| Amount of recycled material converted into new products | 337,745 tons |
| Percentage of recycled content in locally converted polymers | 18% |
| Leading recycler | Mpact Recycling |
| Amount of recyclables collected by Mpact Recycling per year | 600,000-700,000 tons |
| Recycler in Cape Town | Myplas |
| Non-profit company focused on plastic recycling in South Africa | Polyco PRO NPC |
| Map of collectors, recyclers, depots, landfills, swap shops, and buy-back centers | The Sustainable Sea Trust |
| Map of recycling companies in the Western Cape | Green Map |
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What You'll Learn
Interactive maps for local recycling centres
Recycling plastic in South Africa is made easier with the help of interactive maps that show local recycling centres near you. These maps are a great tool to locate drop-off sites, buy-back centres, and collection services.
One such interactive map is provided by the Sustainable Sea Trust (SST). It shows thousands of collectors, recyclers, depots, landfills, swap shops, and buy-back centres in most major centres in South Africa. The SST also provides the African Marine Network Map, which spatially connects different stakeholders in the packaging value chain to foster communication and collaboration.
If you live in the Western Cape, the Green Map is a great resource, listing recycling companies that cover different areas of Cape Town, with some offering collections and others having drop-off points.
For those in more remote suburbs, community Facebook pages or local directories can be a good source of information on recycling depots and drop-off points. Additionally, some websites like Petco.co.za provide resources to help you find your nearest drop-off site, buy-back centre, or collection service.
Another interactive map is provided by ISOTHERM Thermal Insulation, which allows you to find an installer near you. You can also drop off your recycling at any Pick 'n Pay store, as well as at dedicated recycling bins inside Woolworths Foodstops at Engen Service Stations.
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Civic associations offering recycling collection services
Civic associations play a crucial role in South Africa's waste and recycling sector, working alongside municipal service providers and private companies. These associations often operate as informal waste collectors, filling a vital gap in the country's waste management system. Despite their significant contributions, these informal sector workers often go unrecognized and face challenges such as limited access to finance.
One notable civic association in South Africa is WasteAid, which has been active since 2020. WasteAid seeks to foster a circular economy in the country, addressing the waste crisis in cities like Johannesburg. They have supported circular economy innovators and entrepreneurs through challenge competitions, providing seed funding and business incubation support. WasteAid also collaborates with organizations like the Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) and the Uganda Tailors Association (UTA) to promote sustainable waste management practices.
Another example is the Gardeniapark Neighborhood Association, which partnered with FS Ewaste for an e-waste collection and awareness day. This initiative encouraged local residents to bring their household electrical and electronic waste for recycling, contributing to a greener environment.
EasyRecycling is a family-run business operating in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. They aim to reduce the amount of recyclable items ending up in council bins, estimated to be over 80% in South Africa. EasyRecycling collects a range of materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and aluminium, covering areas like Constantia, Bergvliet, Meadowridge, and Kirstenhof.
Additionally, Mpact Recycling, claiming to be the leading recycler in South Africa, collects approximately 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of recyclables per annum. They offer office and residential collection programs to raise recycling awareness, create income opportunities, and increase overall recycling levels.
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Companies offering recycling collection services
Postwink has compiled a list of recycling collectors and waste management companies within South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana. They provide an interactive map with thousands of collectors, recyclers, depots, landfills, swap shops and buy-back centres in most major centres in South Africa.
Some suburbs in South Africa have recycling collection services run by civic associations or community groups for a monthly fee. For more remote suburbs, search community Facebook pages or a local directory for recycling depots and drop-off points.
EnviroServ is another waste management company in South Africa that offers waste collection services.
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The types of plastic accepted at recycling centres
Plastic goods are assigned different numbers to grade them for recycling: #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for containers, #4 (LDPE) for bags, #5 for polyolefins, and #7 for mixed non-recyclable plastics like polycarbonates. Almost all recycling centres accept plastics #1, #2, #4, #5, and #6. #1 PET plastic is a valuable recyclable material that can be turned into new products like fibre-fill for duvets and pillows, fibre for geotexiles, carpeting, insulation, and packaging. #2 HDPE is used for bottles, crates, and drums for a wide range of chemicals.
Single-standard plastic is the most easily recycled type of plastic, while dark-coloured plastics are the most difficult and costly to recycle due to their pigments. Mixed-material products, such as cardboard coffee cups with plastic liners, are also challenging to recycle because separating the materials is time-consuming and expensive, often resulting in the plastic components not being recycled.
Recycling codes and the numbers on plastic products can help users understand how to handle their plastic waste. The numbers in the recycling triangle, or resin ID code, indicate the grade of plastic used. Additionally, most plastic containers will have a recycling logo with a number in the middle, which can help users identify how to recycle specific plastics.
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The recycling process for plastic
Collection and Sorting
The first step in the plastic recycling process is the collection of plastic waste. This can be done through various channels, including waste management companies, collectors, and community initiatives. Some suburbs in South Africa have recycling collection services run by civic associations or community groups for a monthly fee. Remote areas may have to rely on local directories or community Facebook pages to find the nearest recycling depots and drop-off points. Organizations like the Sustainable Sea Trust and the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) play a crucial role in this process by connecting collectors, recyclers, and depots. SAPRO, in particular, procures sorted, baled end-of-life plastics for reprocessing into raw materials.
Reprocessing and Manufacturing
Once the plastic waste is collected and sorted, it is then reprocessed into raw materials. This involves cleaning and sanitizing the plastic and melting it down to create new products. The reprocessed plastic can then be used to manufacture new plastic products, such as packaging or other plastic items. South Africa has shown encouraging progress in this regard, with recycled content making up a significant portion of locally converted polymers.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Plastic recycling has a positive economic impact in South Africa, contributing directly to the country's GDP and the manufacturing sector. It also helps reduce the production of waste, decreasing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. This, in turn, reduces the chemicals and gases produced in landfills, contributing to a cleaner environment. Additionally, initiatives like Polyco, a non-profit company, focus on promoting the responsible use and reuse of plastic packaging, aiming to end plastic waste in the environment.
Challenges and Limitations
While South Africa is among the top recycling countries globally, there are challenges and limitations to the plastic recycling process. One significant challenge is the low recycling rate, with only 7.5% of South Africa's waste being recycled. Additionally, not all types of plastic are accepted at recycling depots, and there may be variations in what different recyclers accept. For example, Tetrapaks, which combine plastic and cardboard, are not accepted at all recycling depots.
Public Participation
The public plays a crucial role in the plastic recycling process. Individuals can simplify their plastic recycling needs by reducing plastic use in their homes. They can also properly sort and dispose of plastic waste. Crushing empty plastic bottles before recycling helps save space, and keeping the lid on ensures the bottle stays flat for easier storage and transportation.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several companies that offer plastic recycling in South Africa, including Mpact Recycling, Myplas, and Polyco.
Mpact Recycling is the leading recycler in South Africa, collecting about 600,000-700,000 tonnes of recyclables per year.
The Sustainable Sea Trust has an interactive map that shows collectors, recyclers, depots, landfills, swap shops, and buy-back centers in most major centers in South Africa.
Myplas, a market leader in recycled plastic compounds in Cape Town, is the only HDPE, LDPE, and PP Recycler in South Africa to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification.
South Africa converted 337,745 tons of recycled material into new products, with more than 70% of the recyclable plastic collected coming from landfills and other post-consumer sources.
