To drive systemic changes to waste management in Swellendam, the town’s local municipality has signed an agreement with recycling infrastructure provider Polyco South Africa.

The parties will tackle illegal dumping, expand access to recycling infrastructure and build a buyback centre that will pay communities members for the waste they collect.

Under Polyco’s Packa-Ching programme, more than R27-million has been paid out to waste pickers for their recyclables and about 27-million kilogrammes of waste have been diverted from landfills.

The collaboration between Polyco and the Swellendam municipality will include the rollout of education and awareness programmes in schools and communities, as well as additional support for informal waste reclaimers.

Polyco will provide funding, training and technical assistance to support implementation of the various waste management programmes over the next two years, while the Swellendam municipality will facilitate land access, coordinate community involvement and enable the rollout of priority infrastructure as per their approved budget.

This agreement marks the latest in a series of memoranda of understanding between Polyco and Western Cape municipalities, including the Mossel Bay and George municipalities.

With waste management falling directly under municipalities’ responsibilities, they play a vital role in providing waste collection infrastructure, including recycling services, and encouraging communities to recycle their waste.

“Our latest partnership with Swellendam is part of a broader strategy to empower local communities and drive environmental change from the ground up,” says Polyco CEO Patricia Pillay.

She adds that, together with municipalities, the company is working to create a circular economy that is inclusive, innovative and impactful.

“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.”

Echoing this vision, the Swellendam municipality has positioned circular economy principles at the core of its waste strategy. The town aims to treat waste as a resource that can stimulate local small business development and reduce litter.

Swellendam municipality waste and environmental manager Johan van Niekerk says Polyco’s Packa-Ching programme will greatly assist in unlocking value in the area. Residents will be able to earn credits for recycling that can be spent at local businesses.

“Our shared goal is that everyone recognises the worth of waste, chooses to recycle and keeps both money and materials circulating in Swellendam and litter off the ground,” Van Niekerk says.

Polyco says it remains committed to advancing the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations that came into force in 2021 and recognises that partnerships with municipalities are central to achieving this objective.

“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 concludes.