Enerpat horizontal baler doubles PET processing capacity to 7,000T/month at CL Trading

SOUTH AFRICA – CL Trading in Parow, South Africa, has installed a US$180,000 Enerpat horizontal baler with Petco’s financial assistance, doubling processing capacity from 3,500 to 7,000 metric tons per month while creating additional income for hundreds of informal waste pickers.

The baler processes polyethylene terephthalate plastic packaging collected as part of South Africa’s extended producer responsibility system. 

Shaun Styger, managing director of CL Trading, explained that the new baler can process up to 2,500 tons per month, and the company is looking to double its processing volume in the coming months. 

The higher density of the bale allows more payload onto trucks and containers, making logistics more efficient and enabling cost savings to be passed to suppliers.

Expanding Collection Capacity

CL Trading operates collection depots in Stellenbosch, Strand, and Parow, employs more than 200 people, and has a fleet of more than 50 collection vehicles. 

On peak days, more than 700 bottle collectors bring recyclables to CL Trading’s Stellenbosch depot alone. 

The increased output allows CL Trading to increase the volume of recyclable materials it buys from small collection businesses and waste pickers.

One collector, James Mpondo of Thasompo Recycling, remarked that CL Trading has taken him from zero to hero, noting that the company helps with equipment like a trailer when needed.

Partnership with Petco

Petco CEO Telly Chauke explained that the organization is rigorous in selecting key partners to support in order to strengthen the collection and recycling value chain. 

She noted that investing in infrastructure support for small and medium enterprises like CL Trading is one of Petco’s strategic focus areas, because giving the right tools to the right people will help them build a solid operational foundation and grow South Africa’s circular economy.

Shaun Styger acknowledged Petco’s assistance, stating that the high-volume machinery was imported and commissioned through a significant capital investment by CL Trading, complemented by financial assistance from Petco which contributed a portion of the overall funding.

When the Baler Becomes a Bottleneck Breaker

A collection depot that cannot bale its PET quickly enough cannot pay its collectors. 

A baler that produces low-density bales fills trucks with air, not weight. CL Trading’s new Enerpat horizontal baler solves both problems: higher throughput, denser bales, more money for waste pickers, and less material sitting on the yard waiting for transport.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE