Polyco, Swellendam Municipality partner to advance recycling and circular economy

SOUTH AFRICA – Polyco South Africa, a leading recycling infrastructure provider, has partnered with the Swellendam Municipality to launch a collaborative waste management initiative aimed at reducing illegal dumping, expanding recycling access, and creating economic opportunities for local communities.

At the core of the agreement is the establishment of a buyback centre, where residents will be compensated for the recyclable waste they collect.

The initiative builds on Polyco’s successful Packa-Ching program, which has already diverted over 27-million kilograms of recyclables from landfills nationwide and paid out more than R27-million to waste pickers.

Over the next two years, Polyco will provide funding, training, and technical support, while Swellendam municipality will facilitate land access, coordinate community involvement, and allocate infrastructure resources.

Together, the partners will also roll out education and awareness programs in schools and communities, alongside support for informal waste reclaimers.

“This partnership is part of a broader strategy to empower local communities and drive environmental change from the ground up,” said Patricia Pillay, CEO of Polyco.

“We’re especially focused on making the waste and recycling economy work for the people who power it: from young entrepreneurs and small businesses to women and informal reclaimers.”

The collaboration reflects Swellendam’s commitment to embedding circular economy principles into its waste management strategy.

The municipality aims to treat waste not as a burden but as a resource that stimulates local business development while reducing litter.

According to Johan van Niekerk, Waste and Environmental Manager for Swellendam Municipality, the Packa-Ching program will be transformative for the area.

“Residents will be able to earn credits for recycling that can be spent at local businesses. Our shared goal is that everyone recognizes the worth of waste, chooses to recycle, and keeps both money and materials circulating within Swellendam,” he said.

The Swellendam partnership follows similar agreements Polyco has signed with other Western Cape municipalities, including Mossel Bay and George, reinforcing the company’s role in helping municipalities meet their recycling mandates under South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, implemented in 2021.

“We look forward to working with Swellendam municipality to drive meaningful change across the plastic packaging value chain – paving the way for a cleaner, more inclusive, and environmentally responsible future for all citizens,” Pillay added.

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