The first harbour-based net recycling facility in South Africa was launched at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town yesterday, 10 October, by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George.
Located at Collier Jetty, the micro-recycling pod’ processes old fishing nets into high-value raw materials for re-use in plastic manufacturing. The recycling pod, housed in a converted shipping container, can shred, wash, dry and densify up to 100 kilograms of used nets per hour.
By transforming discarded fishing gear into clean plastic flakes, the facility prevents waste from reaching landfills or the ocean, reduces the risk of ghost fishing gear, and creates new economic opportunities the Minister said.
The project aims to create a scalable, circular economy solution for marine plastic waste at the harbour’s edge. It will also create awareness of the importance of recycling among residents and visitors to the V&A Waterfront.
The launch of this pilot project is led by OCEAN Action Network (OCEAN) and Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), while the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) supported the project by securing funding from the Marine Stewardship Council’s Ocean Stewardship Fund. The V&A Waterfront also supported the project by donating space to host and operate the facility.
Commending the initiative, Minister Geroge said it supports South Africa’s national commitments under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and advances global goals such as Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. He emphasised the project complements the ambitions of the emerging Global Plastic Treaty and reflects South Africa’s leadership on this issue within the G20 Presidency.
“This solution illustrates what a sustainable future can be like and how to to build resilience in a blue economy to ensure economic activity supports environmental protection,” Minister George said.
Managing Director of OCEAN Action Network, Estelle van der Merwe, said: “This is more than just a recycling project. It’s about protecting marine ecosystems, supporting South Africa’s fishing communities, and building a model that can be replicated in other harbours around the country and across the continent.”
Johann Augustyn, Executive Secretary of SADSTIA, Johann Augustyn, highlighted the project’s alignment with the MSC Fisheries Standard. “Mitigating the impacts of ghost gear is essential for healthy oceans. We hope this South African pilot inspires wider adoption of innovative, technology-based recycling solutions.”
With the recycling pod now fully operational, the next step is to scale the model. OPT’s self-contained plant is designed for easy replication enabling additional containers to be deployed to other harbours. Oliver Nudds of OPT said: “By densifying and cleaning plastic on-site, we’re creating a resource rather than a waste problem – and building a foundation for long-term sustainability, job creation and economic upliftment.”
Minister George added: “Our oceans are the lifeblood of South Africa’s environmental and economic future.”
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