PET Recycling Rate Hit 62% in South Africa

The collection volume recorded 2% decline when compared with the prior year.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The PET Recycling Company (PETCO) - the South African producer responsibility organization for plastics recycling published collection rate for 2019. The country’s plastics industry reported positive PET recycling rate, amidst contractions in global market’

The latest published figures indicate that 62% of all polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic beverage bottles placed on the market in 2019 in the country were recycled. A total of 95, 879 tonnes of post-consumer PET bottles were collected during the year, thus saving nearly 144,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. It must be noted that more than 23,904 tonnes of rPET were sold during the year.

The collection volume recorded 2% decline when compared with the prior year. This was expected, mainly on account of previously announced closure of operations of Mpact Polymers-one among the six PET recyclers in the country.

The PETCO report noted that a total of R372 million was paid by recyclers for baled bottles delivered to their plants. Out of these bottles, nearly 57% were recycled into polyester staple fiber (PSF). Also, 36% was used for food-grade rPET.

The report cited increased PET demand in packaging of hygiene products and personal protective equipment. On the contrary, the demand for clothing and household textiles witnessed notable decline.

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