As Gauteng's municipal landfill capacity continues to decline, a new partnership between Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and the private waste sector is demonstrating how collaborative investment can help divert valuable recyclables from landfill while creating jobs and strengthening South Africa's circular economy.

The newly launched Tonkmeter Material Recovery Facility (MRF), located on a private landfill site in Springs, has been established through a significant infrastructure investment by Petco, supported by a strategic co-investment from MetPac-SA – South Africa's Producer Responsibility Organisation for metal packaging. Once fully operational, the facility will be capable of recovering and processing up to 600 tonnes of recyclable materials every month, including metal packaging, PET plastic and liquid board cartons.

Speaking at the launch, Gauteng Provincial Waste Management Officer Palesa Mathibeli said the province's landfill crisis demanded urgent action. "We are quickly running out of landfill airspace because we are not diverting waste away from them. Facilities like this demonstrate how government and the private sector can work together to address this growing challenge and how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) funding can be used to build practical recycling infrastructure that delivers long-term environmental, economic and social benefits”.

According to Dr Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA, the investment supports its ongoing commitment to expanding collection and recycling infrastructure while increasing the recovery of valuable metal packaging. “The Tonkmeter facility is an example of the type of collaboration needed to achieve South Africa's EPR and circular economy objectives. Every tonne of recyclable material recovered represents less waste going to landfill and more valuable resources remaining in the economy," he said.

"Projects such as this strengthen South Africa's recycling value chain, support waste collectors and recyclers, create employment opportunities and improve the recovery of metal packaging. MetPac-SA is proud to partner with organisations that share our vision of building a more sustainable and resource-efficient future,” Dr Singh added.

Tonkmeter CEO Leon Grobbelaar said the landfill currently receives around 5 000 tonnes of waste every month, with the immediate goal of recovering at least 50 tonnes of recyclable packaging before it reaches landfill. The facility already accepts baled recyclable materials from businesses and collectors for further sorting and processing. Future plans include integrating waste pickers operating at the nearby Rietfontein municipal landfill into a centralised recovery system, providing improved market access and more stable income opportunities.

"It's a very satisfying industry because of the job creation in our KwaThema community and taking waste out of the environment," said Grobbelaar.

Petco General Manager for Recycling and Collections Samu Mkhize described the project as a practical example of industry collaboration in action. "Tonkmeter is not just another recycling project. It integrates landfill diversion with recovery infrastructure and brings together industrial, commercial and informal material streams into a single operating model,” she said.

Petco's cashless payment platform enables waste pickers to receive service fees for the PET and liquid board packaging they collect, while the organisation's investment in conveyor systems, balers and forklifts represents its largest infrastructure investment to date.

Concluded Mkhize: “As pressure on landfill space continues to grow, the Tonkmeter Material Recovery Facility offers a practical model for future investment, showing how government, industry and Producer Responsibility Organisations can work together to increase recycling, strengthen local value chains, support livelihoods and keep valuable recyclable materials in circulation for longer.”