South Africa’s drive to end plastic pollution took a major step forward with the official opening of Extrupet’s new food-grade PET plastic recycling plant in Cape Town. The R200 million (US $11.6 m) facility will process 15 000 tonnes of post-consumer PET each year into high-quality recycled PET (rPET) that complies with both local and international food-grade safety standards.
Speaking at the opening, Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, hailed the plant as “a symbol of how South Africa can turn a crisis into an opportunity.” He commended Extrupet, Propet and PETCO for their investment and leadership in building the infrastructure that underpins a circular economy.
“This plant shows what is possible when policy meets partnership, when waste becomes wealth, and when vision is matched by action,” Dr George said. “Cleaner rivers, healthier communities, stronger industries and more jobs – that’s the future we’re building together.”
The Cape Town plant adds 15 000 tonnes of rPET capacity per year, increasing Extrupet’s total output from 30 000 to 45 000 tonnes. With phase two planned, national capacity will reach 60 000 tonnes next year. The facility strengthens the PET value chain by creating stable demand for material collected by waste pickers and small recyclers, integrating them further into formal systems.
New EU rules require beverage bottles to contain at least 25 percent certified recycled PET. With local food-grade rPET available at scale, Western Cape producers are better positioned to meet these standards and protect export markets.
The Minister highlighted how the National Waste Management Strategy, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and PETCO’s role as Producer Responsibility Organisation provide the framework, while industry investment turns regulation into reality. More than 70 percent of PET beverage bottles placed on the market by PETCO members are already collected and recycled.
South Africa is also playing a leading role internationally through the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on a legally binding plastics treaty, while at home it continues to roll out measures such as microbead bans, single-use restrictions and investments in recycling capacity.
This new Extrupet plant stands as a beacon of what’s possible: policy and partnership working hand-in-hand to turn plastic waste into a driver of innovation, livelihoods and sustainable growth.
