A new €60-million (R1.14-billion) plastic recycling plant in Ballito shows further evidence of global investment interest on the North Coast.

Austrian multinational recycling company ALPLA officially opened its 90 000m² plant at North Point Ballito between the N2 and R102 last Thursday, after 18 months of construction.

The plant will produce up to 35 000 tonnes of recycled PET (rPET) annually from next year, which will be processed into sustainable packaging and plastic bottles.

ALPLA’s investment is the third major investment into the North Coast in the last year, following the R2-billion Club Med resort in Tinley Manor and R1.1-billion Toyota manufacturing plant at the Dube Tradeport.

Together they form a picture of positive post-Covid sentiment towards the North Coast from the global business community.

“South Africa is a strategically important market for us and one in which we want to continue to grow,” said ALPLA CEO, Philipp Lehner.

“Together with our customers and partners, our aim is to provide safe, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions to our customers and to continue improving standards of living.

With our investments in Ballito and before that in Lanseria, we have laid the foundation for a successful future.”

The Lanseria plant in Johannesburg will receive the rPET flakes and pellets from Ballito and process them into usable products. New national regulations in 2021 made it necessary for all newly produced PET bottles to include at least 10% recycled material, which will increase to 20% in 2026.

ALPLA’s Ballito plant is already designed to accommodate expansion as needed and an extra 30 000m² is available on their North Point site.

Local business stakeholders welcomed the positive economic and environmental impact that the recycling plant will have in the area.

“ALPLA’s involvement does not only accelerate the industrialisation of the iLembe District Municipality, but ensures investing in projects that support UN sustainable development goals, attracting other companies along the value chain and creating several thousand jobs in the collection infrastructure,” said CEO of Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Ngcamu.

iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse, was equally upbeat.

“A new foreign direct investor, spanning the manufacturing and environmental sectors, could not better fit our business community’s vision of sustainable growth. The development emphasises the importance of sustainable industries as a key driver for local economic resilience.

It also highlights our region’s readiness to support ambitious recycling initiatives, and foster partnerships that enhance the circular economic value chain.”

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