Minister Dion George opens Extrupet’s New Food-Grade Pet Plastic Recycling Plant in Cape Town

06 October 2025

• Dr Dion George, MP, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, officially opened Extrupet’s innovative food-grade PET plastic recycling plant, marking a pivotal step in South Africa’s fight against plastic pollution.

• The facility symbolises the transformation of environmental complexities into economic opportunities, fostering jobs, innovation, and a robust circular economy through strategic partnerships with Propet and PETCO.

• This launch underscores South Africa’s leadership in global sustainability efforts, enhancing recycling capacity and supporting compliance with international standards for a greener future.

Dr Dion George, MP, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, today officially opened Extrupet’s new food-grade PET plastic recycling plant in Cape Town, hailing it as a symbol of South Africa’s commitment to transforming plastic waste into opportunities for jobs, innovation, and inclusive growth.

The facility, developed in partnership with Propet and PETCO, represents a significant investment in the circular economy. Speaking at the event, Minister George commended Extrupet, Propet, and PETCO for their leadership, noting that such initiatives demonstrate how South Africa’s waste sector can become a cornerstone of sustainable development.

“This plant is more than bricks and machinery; it is a symbol of how South Africa can turn a crisis into an opportunity,” said Minister George. “It shows that with clear policy, vision, and partnership, plastic waste can be transformed from a burden on our environment into a driver of jobs, innovation, and inclusive growth.”

The Minister emphasised the government’s role in creating an enabling environment through frameworks such as the National Development Plan, the National Waste Management Strategy, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. He highlighted how industry investments bring these policies to life, fostering collaboration between business and government to achieve growth and sustainability.

PET plastics, among the most visible and valuable materials in the waste stream, support livelihoods for waste pickers and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). Minister George stressed that proper collection prevents PET from ending up in landfills, rivers, and oceans, instead building enterprises and dignity for many.

“Supply must meet demand. Waste pickers and SMMEs are central to that supply. They are not on the margins of this story; they are at its heart,” he said. “Our work with municipalities to integrate waste pickers into formal systems will strengthen this value chain.”

Under EPR regulations, producers must meet targets for collection and recycling. PETCO, as the Producer Responsibility Organisation, supports compliance, resulting in over 70 per cent of PET beverage bottles placed on the market by its members being collected and recycled.

The new plant adds 15,000 tonnes of recycled PET 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. This expansion also enhances competitiveness, helping Western Cape producers meet new European Union rules requiring at least 25 per cent certified recycled PET in plastic beverage bottles to protect export markets.

Minister George addressed the broader crisis of plastic pollution, describing it as both an environmental and public health emergency that harms communities and ecosystems. South Africa is leading global efforts through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, advocating for a legally binding instrument covering the full life cycle of plastics.

“Even as negotiations continue, and even where talks have stalled, we are acting at home,” he said. “From our regulations on microbeads and single-use items to investments that expand recycling capacity, we are proving that South Africa will not wait to be told what to do. We will lead by example.”

The Minister concluded by congratulating Extrupet, Propet, and PETCO, describing the plant as a beacon of what can be achieved together: cleaner rivers, healthier communities, stronger industries, and more jobs.

“This facility stands as proof that South Africa is serious about ending plastic pollution and building a circular economy that works for all,” he added.

For media interview enquiries please contact:

Thobile Zulu-Molobi:
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E-mail: tmolobi@dffe.gov.za
or
Chelsey Wilken
Mobile: +27 74 470 5996
E-mail: cwilken@dffe.gov.za