CAPE TOWN, July 26 (ANA) - Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina on Friday welcomed the R25-million Japan-South Africa collaboration project aimed at combating plastic pollution in South Africa, hailing it as a “ground-breaking” initiative.
In a statement, the department said the three-year project, which was launched in Pretoria on Friday, aimed to support the South African plastics industry to transition from conventional plastics to more environmentally sustainable alternative materials. The project is funded by the Japanese government and will be implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
She said in order to maximise the environmental benefits of biodegradable plastics, further research and development would be necessary to optimise the production by increasing the efficiencies of various unit processes involved, such as the separation processes and the integration process.
She added that the department and key stakeholders recognised and acknowledged the need for moving away from addressing and managing the issue of waste in a traditional linear manner by embracing the circular economy phenomenon premised on zero waste to landfill and separation at source.
“Locally, we are seeing signs of improvement in the recycling space. More than 334 780 tons of material are recycled into raw material that is used in the manufacture of refuse bags, plastic bags, milk cartons and even waterproof sleeping bags for the homeless. Worldwide there is a push towards the development of plastics from biomaterials or renewable sources. The impact of this work will play an important role in increasing local technical skills and will eventually lead to local job creation in manufacturing,” she said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
