Closing the Loop with HDPE: 50/Fifty Wheelie Bin

The City of Cape Town (CCT) implemented a circular procurement policy for its wheelie bins, requiring them to be made from 50% HDPE recyclate with a 10-year minimum lifespan. Since November 2014, this initiative has diverted approximately 1,132 to 1,156 tonnes of HDPE from landfills, saving between 1,053 and 1,121m3 of landfill airspace. The programme has generated cost savings of R9 to R10.1 million through lower unit prices and an additional R6.7 million via a bin-exchange scheme where the contractor provides one free bin for every 65kg of condemned material. The project has created 13 permanent and 18 part-time local jobs and reduced Scope 2 CO2 eq emissions by 1,708 tonnes. By sourcing materials locally and securing end-markets for recyclers, the CCT has reduced its vulnerability to global commodity price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

• The City of Cape Town (CCT) implemented a circular procurement specification for refuse bins requiring them to be comprised of 50% HDPE recyclate, be UV stabilised, have a minimum lifespan of 10 years, be made from 100% local content, and be recyclable at end of life.
• Between November 2014 and November 2020, the initiative diverted between 1,132 and 1,156 tonnes of HDPE from landfills, which saved an estimated 1,053 to 1,121m3 of landfill airspace.
• The programme achieved significant financial savings: the CCT saved between R9 and R10.1 million due to the 50/fifty bins costing R25.00 to R28.00 less than 100% virgin bins, and an additional R6.7 million through a contractor exchange where one free bin is provided for every 65kg of condemned material.
• The procurement specification has had a positive social and economic impact by creating 13 permanent and 18 part-time local jobs and securing a R145 million contract for the supplier over three years.
• The project reduced the Scope 2 CO2 eq emissions of bin procurement by 1,708 tonnes since its inception, based on a saving of 0.86 kg CO2eq per kg of HDPE.
• The use of 50% recyclate in bins unlocked 1,986 tonnes of virgin HDPE for higher-quality markets, such as food grade packaging, because traditional black bins would have required additives that limit the end markets for recycled HDPE.

APA

GreenCape (2020). Closing the Loop with HDPE: 50/Fifty Wheelie Bin. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_RESILIENCE_CASE_STUDY_27_1_21-3.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Closing the Loop with HDPE: 50/Fifty Wheelie Bin. 2020. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_RESILIENCE_CASE_STUDY_27_1_21-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Closing the Loop with HDPE: 50/Fifty Wheelie Bin |date=2020 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_RESILIENCE_CASE_STUDY_27_1_21-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencape2020closing, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Closing the Loop with HDPE: 50/Fifty Wheelie Bin}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2020}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_RESILIENCE_CASE_STUDY_27_1_21-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }