South Africa opens food-grade PET recycling plant in Western Cape

SOUTH AFRICA – Petco, in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), has launched Extrupet (Pty) Ltd’s new food-grade PET bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Cape Town, the first of its kind in the Western Cape.

The R200 million (US$11.59m) investment will process 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET annually, turning it into high-quality recycled PET (rPET) that complies with both local and international food-grade safety standards.

The facility represents a major boost to South Africa’s circular economy and is expected to reduce plastic waste entering landfills significantly.

PETCO CEO Telly Chauke said the new plant underscores the organization’s commitment to scaling recycling infrastructure nationwide.

“This facility is a milestone not only for Cape Town but for South Africa. It will expand local capacity, ensure bottle-to-bottle recycling at world-class standards, and create meaningful jobs across the recycling value chain,” she said.

Driving circular growth

The launch comes at a time when South Africa is strengthening its extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework, which obliges packaging producers to take greater responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.

PET bottles are a major component of plastic packaging waste, but South Africa has long been a leader in their recycling, with national PET collection rates rising from 16% in 2005 to nearly 76% in 2023.

The Cape Town plant builds on this momentum by making recycled PET more readily available to beverage, food, and packaging manufacturers, supporting brands committed to using higher percentages of recycled content in their packaging.

By adding 15,000 tonnes of rPET capacity annually, the facility is expected to help reduce the country’s carbon footprint and reliance on virgin plastic imports.

It will also support the livelihoods of waste pickers, small collectors, and recycling businesses that supply feedstock.

DFFE Minister Barbara Creecy welcomed the investment, noting that it aligns with government’s priority of developing a green economy that delivers both environmental protection and economic opportunity.

“This facility shows how public-private partnerships can deliver practical climate action, strengthen circular systems, and stimulate inclusive growth,” she said.

Extrupet, South Africa’s largest PET recycler, already operates one of Africa’s biggest rPET plants in Johannesburg.

The new Cape Town facility expands its national footprint and positions the Western Cape as a hub for sustainable packaging innovation.

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