Polyco and Swellendam Local Municipality have officially joined forces through an agreement to drive systemic change in waste management in the town. 

This vision focuses on a shared commitment between Polyco and Swellendam Municipality to tackle illegal dumping, expand access to recycling infrastructure and generate economic opportunities particularly through the development of a Packa-Ching buy-back centre which will pay community members for the waste they collect.

Under Polyco’s Packa-Ching programme, over R27 million has been paid out to communities for their recyclables, and 27 million kilograms of waste have been diverted from landfills to date.

This collaboration also includes the joint rollout of education and awareness programmes in schools and communities and 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 MOUs between Polyco and Western Cape municipalities including Mossel Bay Municipality and George Municipality. 

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,” said Patricia Pillay, CEO of Polyco. “Together with municipalities, we’re 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 SMMEs 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 SMME development, grow local businesses, and reduce litter.

“Polyco’s Packa-Ching programme is instrumental in unlocking this value,” said Johan van Niekerk, Manager: Waste and Environmental at the Swellendam Municipality. “Through it, residents 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.”

Polyco remains commited to advancing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations that came into force in 2021 and recognises that partnerships with municipalities is 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.

About Polyco South Africa

Polyco is a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) under South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. It invests in initiatives that transform waste into economic resources by expanding plastic packaging collection and recycling. Collaborating with stakeholders, Polyco advances recycling infrastructure and educates consumers on sustainable waste management.