Tego Plastics, a subsidiary of Kaap Agri, specialises in manufacturing large- form plastic storage solutions. With a focus on production efficiency, value-adding and sustainability, Tego operates a fully equipped in-house plastics recycling plant where it recycles internal products and bins returned as part of the company’s bin-and-feet exchange programme. Products which would have gone to landfill are properly recycled and reprocessed by the plant.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, SA generates 2,4 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. The materials thrown away persist in nature long after they have been discarded and only 14% of the 2,4 million tonnes of plastic thrown away are recycled.
The plant was established in 2019 based on research which indicated that a buy-back programme, where customers can exchange a certain number of old bins for a new bin, could give Tego Plastics several competitive advantages. Kaap Agri identified an opportunity whereby the company could use recycled material to develop bin feet and other products cost-effectively whilst providing customers with a responsible and convenient channel through which to discard broken bulk bins and feet.
The plant consists of two world-class recycling units – a granulator and extruder unit. The granulator is used to grind plastic material parts and delivery systems (sprues and runners) into granules for reprocessing. The extruder is used to melt the plastic material that comes from the granulator. These processed plastics are then used to produce the black bin feet.
The plant consists of two world-class recycling units – a granulator and extruder unit. The granulator is used to grind plastic material parts and delivery systems (sprues and runners) into granules for reprocessing. The extruder is used to melt the plastic material that comes from the granulator. These processed plastics are then used to produce the black bin feet.
Solam Fani, Executive Manager at Tego, describes the recycling process as very delicate and technical, and adds the business saves significantly with the production of feet from recycling material. Environmental responsibility is also a key focus area. “We’re taking a circular economy approach to our operations. By recycling we prevent useful production material from going to landfill and incorporate it back into the manufacturing process to produce new products,” he explains.
Irresponsible disposal, lack of awareness and the production of poorly designed products and packaging have led to the rise in waste and the rapid loss of landfill space . In order to address this problem, governments across the world have introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which came into effect in South Africa in May last year.
“The objective of the EPR is to allow for product design in a more environmentally friendly way by making it easier to reuse or recycle products. In response to the EPR regulations, Tego wants to ensure, through the recycling plant, that wastage is reduced significantly,” explains Solam. “As producers of plastic products, we want to make sure that we do this responsibly. By using recycled material, we manage our demand and purchasing of virgin raw material and add value for customers by recycling their broken units.”
In addition, Kaap Agri incorporates the 10 principles of the United Nations (“UN”) Global Compact and a culture of integrity into our strategies, policies and procedures. This upholds our basic responsibilities to people in our communities and the planet.
“Our strategic focus areas include the implementation of systems for optimisation of our business operations to reduce our impact on the environment,” says Barend Sulvester, Senior Manager: Sustainability. Currently, the factory recycles 300 000kg of plastic per year. This is equal to 12 million body wash bottles not ending up on landfill sites.
“TEGO’s strategy is to increase the recycling plant’s current capacity of 300kg per hour,” says Sedick Jonkers, Recycling Plant Supervisor, whose passion for recycling operations is tangible.
“If you look at what we have done, it is not even a quarter of the capacity of the plant. The strategy going forward is to recycle more by acquiring broken products from farms, which may include crates and broken chairs made from polypropylene and HDPE. All our Agrimark branches are encouraged to get in contact with us for plastics they need to have recycled.”
