The PET Recycling Company NPC (PETCO) was incorporated in 2004.
PETCO was established by the PET sector of the plastic packaging value chain as a voluntary “Producer Responsibility Organisation” to take responsibility on a collective basis for members’ packaging at the end of its life. With the Section 18 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations coming into effect on the 5th of November 2021, PETCO now operates within a legislated EPR environment.
PETCO’s efforts are financed by grants and mandatory EPR fees, paid by our Producer members based on the tonnage of PET that they place onto the South African market.
PETCO uses the revenue it collects to support the collection and recycling value chain, particularly during adverse economic cycles. Given that the market price of PET fluctuates because of fluctuations in oil prices, exchange rates, demand from large countries such as China, and other factors, it can be a volatile market. This support for the collection and recycling value chain is paid out at contracted rates for tonnages, in line with PETCO’s annual recycling targets. In turn, recyclers are then able to ensure consistent demand for post-consumer PET from collectors. This support also acts as an economic incentive to stimulate collection and thereby ensures that collectors obtain a fair price for their collected recyclables.
PETCO works with the whole PET value chain – from resin producers through to the converters, bottlers, brand owners, retailers and consumers. And with everyone playing their part, PETCO’s role of implementing EPR promotes the integration of environmental costs associated with PET products throughout their life cycles into the market costs of the products.
Since the establishment of PETCO, post-consumer PET bottle recycling in South Africa has grown from 2% in 2000 to 55% in 2021. This lead, in 2021 to a total of 82 469 tonnes of PET or 1.9 billion bottles being collected for recycling – equating to 5.2 million bottles collected every day that year. This is a substantial achievement in a relatively short span of time.
PETCO’s key objective is to keep member packaging out of the environment where it does not belong; and increasingly getting it recycled to be used back in packaging again, in other words, aiming to find a cradle-to-cradle solution for post-consumer PET and promoting a circular economy for PET plastic.
This is done via:
- Commercial-Scale Recycling Projects:
PETCO contracts commercial recyclers (not to be confused with collectors or sorters) who have an end-use market in their value chain. The organisation currently has 11 projects with 6 contracted recyclers.
- Collection and Training Projects:
PETCO works on the ground with reclaimers/waste-pickers, SMME’s, co-operatives and waste management companies to promote and enable the collection of packaging.
This includes:
Training:
In partnership with municipalities and other organisations, PETCO empowers informal reclaimers through training and mentoring in entrepreneurship and enterprise development. By supporting the informal sector, PETCO and its partner organisations are encouraging a fairer position in the value chain for reclaimers, which legitimises their occupation.
PETCO’s training includes the following:
- How to identify recyclable packaging;
- How to sort, bale and add volume;
- How to find markets.
Sponsorship:
- PETCO sponsors infrastructure and equipment to unlock collection, enable transport and improve efficiencies in quality and quantity of PET packaging collected. This includes support in the form of trolleys, bulk bags, personal protective equipment (PPE), baling machines and other items – given to individual informal reclaimers, SMMEs, cooperatives and community-based organisations.
Education and Awareness:
- Schools: In 2019 PETCO negotiated a strategic five-year partnership with Pick n Pay’s Schools Club where PETCO will create content (posters and workbooks) every year for those 5 years. The partnership will ensure that PETCO’s recycling message will spread to 500 schools in four provinces – reaching 375 000 learners through 17 500 teachers.
- Social media: using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn PETCO shares the message around how to recycle.
- Events: in person and webinars are used to reach consumers and members to educate them about various topics around sustainability, recycling and other relevant topics.
- Special Projects and Joint Ventures
- Project Up, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and implemented by BanQu in collaboration with PETCO, aims to empower and integrate the informal recycling sector (buy-back centres and waste pickers) into recycling value chains.
- Joint ventures with:
- In 2020, Coca-Cola approved a R3-million grant and partnered with PETCO to support our national network of over 100 buy-back centres. The cash flow injection, which was deployed into 2021, ensured that they could open their doors when the economy reopened.
- From January 2021 to date: PETCO, in partnership with Safripol, supported 7 Local Municipalities and 24 Recycling Projects in 8 Provinces with a Total of 1775 Bulk Bags.
- To enable increased collections, Coca-Cola Beverages South Afrcia has invested in a collection and transport subsidy and equipment support.
https://web.facebook.com/PETPlasticRecyclingSA?_rdc=1&_rdr
https://www.instagram.com/petco_sa/
Website: https://petco.co.za/
Contact;
Phone 0860 147 738
Fax info@petco.co.za
PET Recycling Company NPC
Postnet Suite 245
Private Bag X16
Constantia, 7848