South Africa recycles more plastic bottles than it throws away

Posted on : Wednesday , 26th October 2016

New statistics from recycling company Petco have revealed that more polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are being recycled than are sent to landfill, with about 4.7-million bottles recycled every day.

This resulted in 112 000 t of carbon emissions, as well as 461 000 m3 of landfill space, being saved.

Noting that South Africa was winning the battle of recycling plastic bottles, the company said 52% of post-consumer PET plastic bottles, or around 74 000 t, were collected for recycling last year.

This is expected to increase to 54% for 2016.

Meanwhile, Petco said that about 50 000 sustainable employment opportunities have been created, with R275-million having been invested in support of recycling projects.

About R1.2-billion was paid to PET collectors by recyclers with Petco playing a catalytic role by investing R1-billion in infrastructure development.

The organisation further facilitated R3.5-billion of value into the downstream economy.

CEO Cheri Scholtz said the company was delighted that, for the eleventh consecutive year, the post-consumer PET bottle-recycling rate had increased.

“Recycling PET bottles over the last 12 years has saved a total of 651 000 t of carbon [emissions] and avoided using 2.7-million cubic meters of landfill space,” she added.

Source : www.engineeringnews.co.za

OUR ASSOCIATES

EXPOGROUP

Expogroup is a full service exhibition organiser with over eighteen years experience in International.Trade Exhibitions and Events. Our current portfolio includes 20 annual exhibitions from a diverse range of industries being held across the Middle East & Africa.

WELCOME TO EXPOGROUP

EVENTS PREVIEW

BUILDEXPO AFRICA