SANBWA applauds plastics industry for commitment to recycling

ABSTRACT

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT South Africa's plastic recycling industry was severely challenged but delivered figures that are to be applauded. This is the opinion of South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) CEO, Charlotte Metcalf, who listed the major challenges as ongoing load-shedding, water shortages and high labour costs and, of course, adapting to COVID regulations within the workplace (many recyclers were unable to operate at full capacity for several months due to social distancing norms). As a result, according to the latest figures (2020) released by the umbrella body representing the local plastics industry - Plastics SA, 461 500 tons of plastic waste were collected for recycling, of which 312 600 tons were successfully recycled back into raw materials