# As global pressure mounts to reduce plastic use, Plastics SA is calling for smarter, evidence-based solutions, not blanket bans. South Africa produces nearly 2.5-million tons of plastic a year. The country also boasts some of the highest mechanical recycling rates in the world for developing countries, with over 28-percent of post-consumer plastics being recycled locally. Plastics SA’s executive director, Anton Hanekom, says citizens must prioritise responsible consumption, collection, sorting and improved recycling systems, and innovation in product design and end-of-life solutions.
Plastics SA calls for a more balanced and practical conversation about plastics