RECYCLING OF PVC
SOUTH AFRICA USED MORE RECYCLED PLASTICS IN 2024 AS RECYCLING RATES IMPROVED
Plastics SA, the umbrella body representing the South African plastics industry, has released its latest annual plastics consumption and recycling figures for the year ending December 2024. Anton Hanekom, Executive Director of Plastics SA, acknowledge that the 2025/2026 figures might paint a different story once all the data has been collected and verified, but stated that the 2024 results offered an encouraging outlook despite persistent challenges within South Africa’s waste management system and significant economic and operational pressures that had to be overcome by recyclers.
South Africa in the Global Context
In global terms, South Africa’s virgin plastics consumption represents approximately 0.4% of total global plastics consumption. However, South Africa remains the largest plastics industry in Sub-Saharan Africa, supplying products to neighbouring countries both directly and indirectly through local manufacturers.
One of the most significant findings from the 2024 data is the continued shift towards recycled content. While virgin polymer consumption has grown steadily over the past decade, recyclate consumption has grown at a much faster rate, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to circularity.
Over the last ten years, virgin plastics consumption grew by 18%, while recyclate consumption increased by an impressive 67%. This clearly shows that local reprocessors and manufacturers are actively supporting the transition towards a more circular plastics economy.
End-markets of r-PVC
South Africa currently has more than 40 recyclers which granulate and pelletise vinyl products for re-use in flooring and tiles, shoe soles or other PVC products.
The biggest market (40%) for PVC recyclate continues to be the footwear industry where it is used to manufacture shoes, soles and gumboots, followed by the building and construction industry (38%) and agriculture (12%).
Recycling of PVC Packaging
SAVA registers as PRO for PVC packaging producers
PRO Registration number: 19/7/5/P/PRO/20220811/034
Only 12,600 tonnes (or 9 %) of the locally consumed PVC goes into packaging such as bottles, thermoformed punnets, blister packs, clingfilm and other flexible packaging. Although a small volume polymer packaging material, it is important to note that it has very specific and necessary application values. All of these vinyl products are recyclable, in high demand by recyclers and help to reduce the amount of energy and raw materials needed to produce new products.
The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) has registered as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in order to represent the interests of the PVC packaging producers operating in South Africa.
Producers are charged a levy of R250.00 for every tonne of rigid or flexible packaging they put onto the South African market. SAVA is responsible for reporting on behalf of these producers to DFFE and uses the funds raised to support post-consumer and post-industrial PVC packaging recycling projects for films, bottles, blister packs and other items.
