Three months after its commissioning in late May, Enviro Plastic Africa’s (EPA) new plastic wash plant in Vereeniging, supported by a R2.2 million investment from Polyco, has increased throughput five-fold and is delivering significantly improved recyclate quality.
Brought online on 21May 2025, the new plant has enabled EPA to push its throughput from +/-20 tonnes per month to +/-100 tonnes per month.
The investment marks a major step in boosting Gauteng’s recycling capacity and advancing South Africa’s circular economy, aligning with Polyco’s mission to scale sustainable plastic recycling nationwide.
The plant’s advanced washing technology allows the facility to produce cleaner, higher-quality recycled plastics more efficiently, boosting EPA’s ability to reduce plastic waste and divert more of it from landfills.
Since its founding in 2023, EPA has worked closely with Polyco on local recycling initiatives. Polyco’s support has not only enabled the rollout of the wash plant but also helped strengthen EPA’s broader asset base, including a 500 kg/hour wet extruder and pelletiser, and a 1,000 kg/hour dry and lump crusher line.
Beyond environmental benefits, the investment supports local economic development by positioning EPA for scalable, long-term growth. It also positioned EPA to be able to create more job opportunities, particularly for local youth and women, and extend its environmental reach into surrounding communities.
“We’re proud to back enterprises like EPA that are making circularity real on the ground,” said Patricia Pillay, CEO of Polyco. “This is exactly what EPR is meant to achieve: turning waste into opportunity, building local capacity, and driving environmental and economic impact together. Gauteng is a critical region, and investments like this are a win for business, communities, and the planet.”
With this infrastructure, EPA is now well on its way to becoming a key regional producer of recycled polyethylene pellets and a leading provider of extrusion and granulation services.
The project aligns with Polyco’s mission to foster a cleaner, more inclusive, and resource-circular future for South Africa’s plastics industry.
“This partnership with Polyco has been transformative for EPA,” said Anthony Chatikobo, General Manager at EPA. “The wash plant has not only increased our capacity, but it’s improved the quality of recyclate we can produce, which opens up new markets and long-term growth opportunities. More importantly, it will enable us to bring more local people into the green economy and change how waste is managed in our community.”
Looking ahead, Polyco and EPA view the commissioning of the wash plant as the foundation for deeper, long-term collaboration. Plans are already underway to expand EPA’s operations into additional South African provinces and, ultimately, across the SADC region.
As demand for sustainable recycling solutions grows, Polyco remains committed to investing in the partners and infrastructure that deliver measurable impact and systemic change.