CAPE TOWN, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is committed to boosting its recycling capacity to tackle plastic pollution, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said on Monday.
Swarts made the remarks while delivering a speech at the International Solid Waste Association World Congress, held under the theme "Waste to Wealth: Solutions for a Sustainable Future" from Sept. 15 to 18 in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. This is the first time that the event has taken place on African soil.
"There are various activities planned aligned to the fight against plastics pollution and marine litter. South Africa is increasing recycling capacity for the management of plastic waste and eliminate plastic pollution," said Swarts in her speech.
"South Africa is also implementing product design regulations on prioritized plastic products. Recycled content is a regulated requirement for prioritized plastic products as part of improving circularity," she said.
In 2023, the South African government put a restriction of a minimum of 50 percent recycled content as part of the product design measures for plastic carrier bags, with the intention that by 2027, plastic carrier bags and black refuse bags should be made from 100 percent recycled material.
Swarts noted that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Climate Change Act on July 23. "The Climate Change Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions," Swarts said.
In her speech, the deputy minister also called on the private sector to invest in recycling capacity to help tackle the plastic pollution problem.
"The fiscus is under a lot of pressure here in South Africa and across many other countries, and thus, the role of the private sector in reducing the burden and shouldering some of the responsibility is key," said Swarts. ■