13/08/2026
🔍 “Effective waste management infrastructure is essential, but lasting progress depends on collaboration across government, industry, municipalities, communities, and producer responsibility organisations, supported by education and behaviour change.” — IWMSA
As part of the ongoing discussion on plastic waste management, the International Solid Waste Association invited its national members to share insights from their respective countries, highlighting key challenges, solutions, and opportunities.
🇿🇦 Plastics SA on behalf of ISWA’s National Member for South Africa provided the testimony below.
Plastic pollution remains a significant challenge in South Africa, particularly along roadsides, in communities, rivers, beaches, and coastal environments. Key challenges include:
💠Gaps in waste management and recycling infrastructure
💠Littering and illegal dumping
💠Limited public awareness of responsible waste management practices
⚠️ 95% of all litter items recorded on South African beaches are plastics, while single-use packaging accounts for around 75% of plastic litter. The highest litter densities occur near major urban centres, highlighting the need for improved waste management infrastructure, stronger anti-littering efforts, and lasting behaviour change.
️🏛 South Africa has implemented a range of measures to address plastic pollution, including the National Waste Management Strategy, provincial and municipal waste management plans, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, Cleanup and Recycle SA (a national anti-littering and recycling awareness initiative), and river catchment projects focused on waste management, recycling, education, and community engagement.
📈 Recent beach litter surveys indicate encouraging declines in several litter categories, including industrial fishing gear, cigarette butts, straws, and earbud sticks, demonstrating that targeted interventions and collaborative action can deliver results.
🤝 A key lesson from South Africa's experience is that successful plastic pollution prevention depends on collaboration. Government, municipalities, industry, producer responsibility organisations, NGOs, and communities all have a role to play in improving infrastructure, supporting recycling, raising awareness, and preventing plastic pollution.
🔄 Breaking the plastic pollution cycle in South Africa requires:
💠Effective waste management and recycling infrastructure
💠Sustained consumer education and awareness
💠Behaviour change and anti-littering efforts
💠Collaboration across government, industry, municipalities, communities, and producer responsibility organisations
💠Continued investment in funding, capacity building, and technology
💡 South Africa’s experience shows that plastic pollution can only be prevented when all stakeholders work together. Infrastructure is essential, but lasting progress depends on combining practical waste management solutions with education, awareness, behaviour change, and shared responsibility.
We are thankful to Plastics SA for their contribution on behalf of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa.
