recycling rate of 43.7% for all plastics.
materials that are used to produce more products.
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) represents the plastics re-processors in South Africa. Its members procure sorted, baled end-of-life plastics and re-process it into raw material.
The recycled material can be used to manufacture new plastics products. South Africa is amongst the top recycling countries in the world.
The Organisation is funded by its members and assists recyclers in Building a recycling industry that is respected and acknowledged by government, industry and the public.
In South Africa, the landfill capacity is fast becoming an impending crisis. With only 7.5% of South African’s recycling, we currently have over 90% of waste produced ending up in landfills.
Waste pickers saved government R748.8 million in 2014 through their informal recycling services. However, their value is not recognised.
Recycling helps to reduce the production of waste, and thereby reduce the chemicals and gasses produced in landfills.
Recycled 334 727 tons of material into raw material, when compared to the recycling rate of 1 % in Europe, South Africa has an input recycling rate of 43.7 %  for all plastics.
12,1 % of Metropolitan households do not have regular refuse removal as recorded in 2015 and 64 % of all households have formal waste management.
Material was sourced as baled materials from the formal sector, collectors and waste management companies.
Material is still PE-LD and PE-LLD packaging films (34%), followed by PET beverage bottles which showed a steady increase over the last 4 years (22%), PE-HD bottles, drums and crates represent the third largest recycled polymer in 2017 (20%).
That 52 300 workers received an income through the supply chain, 700 more than in 2016 (These include self-employed waste pickers and employees of smaller entrepreneurial collectors).
Bona fide recyclers have been identified operating in South Africa; 30 % of the recyclers convert 80 % of the tonnages. Among the recyclers surveyed in 2017, 50 % were at least granulating, washing and pelletising.
Aside from a general catchup, update on industry developments and networking, the event will feature guest speaker, Lorren De Kock (Circular Plastics Programme Lead- WWF South Africa) who will give an overview of WWF’s interest in curbing single-use plastics and design for a circular economy (TBC).
Persons and companies who actively engage in the recycling of plastics by washing and/or granulating and/or pelletising plastic waste into material that can be used as recycled content or raw material in the process to manufacture a product.
The process of Plastics Non-Mechanical Recyclers are persons and companies who actively engage in the recycling of plastics by changing the chemical nature of the material and turning it into energy, fuel or chemicals used for various purposes.
Organisations or Associations with objectives in line with the objectives of SAPRO. Persons and firms who actively engage in the recycling of plastics by changing the chemical nature of the material by turning it into energy, fuel or chemicals.
Any person or organisation that is not a plastics recycler or associate member but identifies itself with the purpose/objectives of the Organisation. Approval of membership is to the discretion of the Board of Directors.