THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ARTICLE
The role of plastic packaging recycling in the Green Economy By Quinton Williams
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Quinton Williams, Polyco Business Manager
s a pro -active response to the growing concern around waste and i ts impac t o n society and the environment, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) published the final section 18 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations for the paper and packaging industry, electrical and electronic industry and lighting industry in Government Gazette 44539 on the 5th May 2021. This new legislation officially came in to effect on the 5th November 2021 and legally mandates producers to demonstrate their Extended Producer Responsibility by achieving published legislated targets. This can be done by either joining an existing Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) or forming a new, independent PRO or EPR scheme that will manage products at end of life.
Instead of supporting the out-dated linear approach of producing, using and discarding valuable materials such as plastic, paper, glass and metals, the focus is now on developing circular economies within South Africa – where the value of used packaging is never lost, but is kept within the economy by ensuring that these materials are diverted from landfill to be reused and recycled into many new and useful materials. The EPR Regulations seek to extend the responsibility of Producers of packaging (Identified Products as per the Regulations), both financially and physically, to the management of their packaging at the end of its life. All producers, converters (packaging manufactures) and brand owners that manufacture or generate plastic packaging materials and place more than 10 tonnes on the market are required to be members of an EPR Scheme. PRO’s within the sector therefore developed EPR Schemes that focus on the diversion of plastic packaging from landfill by increasing collection rates and growing recycling volumes. PRO’s who manage these schemes are funded directly by the producers via the implementation of the mandatory EPR fee.
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FINANCIAL MAIL ESSENTIALS • GREEN ECONOMY 2022
The most challenging aspect, in rolling out mandatory EPR and achieving the legislated targets, is the change that is required to take place across the value chain, from packaging design to consumer behaviour change. For this to occur, EPR schemes need to have an overall positive outcome for the South African economy, by stimulating growth in the recycling sector and inducing job creation. These impacts are required to occur throughout South Africa, focusing on both urban and rural areas of South Africa and include transformation in their investment strategy. It will require the participation of the full value chain, including brand owners, packaging converters, retailers, informal and formal collectors, recyclers and consumers. In order to grow the collection and recycling of plastic packaging in South Africa and to promote the responsible use and reuse of this plastic packaging the industry needs to collaborate with multiple stakeholders across the value chain, invest in recycling innovation and recycling infrastructure in South Africa, and educate both the industry and the consumer about recycling. We need to focus on: – Information (Education and Awareness): Promoting consumer education and awareness programmes. – Infrastructure: Supporting existing and encouraging new plastic collection and recycling networks, by investing in infrastructure development. – Innovation and End-use development: Undertaking research and developing value chain projected to stimulate end use demand. – Collaboration: Understanding, working with and advocating with all stakeholders along the value chain. Polyco is a producer responsibility organisation (PRO) that has implemented and operated a voluntary scheme responsible for polyolefins since 2011. In 2021, Polyco merged with Polystyrene Association of South Africa and Vinyl Loop and developed a mandatory EPR Scheme for all plastic packaging materials and we look forward to growing the recycling industry in South Africa.
