By Hugh Tyrrell
THE City of Cape Town is taking significant strides in plastics recycling through the establishment of its materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.
The City’s MRF in Kraaifontein has been operational for years, efficiently sorting plastic and other recyclables by type and directing them back into the recycling industry.
Expanding on this effort, the City is developing a new multi-million-rand MRF at Coastal Park landfill near Muizenberg. This facility will act as a central sorting hub, supporting the City’s Think Twice programme, which will soon serve an additional 27 000 households from Constantia to Wynberg.
New plastic processing plant boosts local recycling industry
These ongoing efforts in recycling infrastructure have inspired private sector investment, most notably with the launch of a R300-million polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic processing plant in Cape Town. Opened in September, this facility processes used PET bottles, such as those used for water and soft drinks, recycling them into new products for similar uses. By keeping PET plastics in circulation, Cape Town’s recycling initiatives contribute to reducing plastic waste while also supporting sustainable industry practices.
Think Twice programme expands to more households
In addition to MRFs, Cape Town’s Think Twice recycling programme provides a free, weekly door-to-door collection service for recyclable materials, including plastics, to nearly 180 000 households. Established over a decade ago, the programme is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in South Africa, setting a national standard for accessible recycling services and contributing significantly to local waste recovery.
Award-winning innovation in plastic recycling
Cape Town’s efforts in plastic recycling were celebrated at a recent awards event hosted by the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO), which recognised innovative products made from recycled plastic.
The top prize went to a 100% recycled polypropylene bleach bottle, illustrating how even common items can have a substantial impact on sustainability. The product, manufactured from over 200 tons of recycled plastic, is now on store shelves at major retailers like Shoprite and Checkers, highlighting the potential of recycled materials in everyday products.
Creating demand for recycled content
The SAPRO awards underscore the importance of recycled content in the marketplace, encouraging brands and retailers to embrace recycled materials in their products. This creates a “demand-pull” effect, leading to increased recovery, collection, and processing of plastic waste. By fostering this demand, Cape Town’s initiatives support the circular economy and generate employment along the recycling value chain.
Addressing plastic pollution with the South African Plastic Pact
With nearly half a million tons of plastic waste polluting South Africa’s environment annually, the South African Plastic Pact—coordinated by GreenCape—plays a key role in the transition to a circular economy. This voluntary pact brings together business, government, and nonprofit members to reduce plastic pollution through sustainable packaging practices.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and PRO support
Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) such as PETCO and Polyco, funded by EPR levies, also contribute to recycling by recovering plastic waste and reintegrating it into the value chain. Under EPR, manufacturers pay an annual levy to the PROs, based on the volume of new packaging they produce, helping fund these critical recovery efforts.
Together, these initiatives show how Cape Town’s commitment to recycling drives environmental and economic benefits, demonstrating the power of a circular economy to make a sustainable difference.
This column explores issues and opportunities in the circular economy. Your comments and suggestions are welcome: mail hugh@greenedge.co.za
