A massive baling machine that compacts and readies materials for recycling is set to double the collection capacity of one of the Western Cape’s leading waste management businesses and, in turn, provide additional income for hundreds of informal waste pickers in the region.
In April, CL Trading, a recycling and waste management company based in the Western Cape, unveiled its new R3-million imported Enerpat horizontal baler at its Parow site. The baler will process polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic packaging collected as part of that nation’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) system. The baler will see CL Trading increasing its processing capacity from 3 500 metric tonnes per month to 7 000 metric tonnes per month.
The machinery was imported and commissioned thanks to financial assistance from South African Plastics Pact producer responsibility organization, Petco.
Petco helps oversee the recycling of PET bottles, jars, thermoforms and strapping, plus polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle closures and liquid board packaging, also referred to as paperboard beverage cartons.
Petco began supporting CL Trading in 2023, when CL Trading won the Petco award for the Best Community Recycling Initiative.
“Investing in infrastructure support for small and medium enterprises like CL Trading is one of our strategic focus areas, because we believe that giving the right tools to the right people will help them build a solid operational foundation, and grow South Africa’s circular economy for the benefit of all,” says Telly Chauke, Petco CEO.
“This day is testament to how partnerships really work to unlock not only collections but also more opportunities for waste pickers, as well as the opportunity to get a consistent supply of good quality recyclable material to the gate of the recycler,” says Chauke.
Petco’s support to CL Trading demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to the SA Plastics Pact. Through this action, Petco is supporting the growth of a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country, with thi action particularly contributing towards Target 3.
