PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2015

EDITOUR REPORT 12 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 04/15 www.petpla.net PET is, at 94%, the preferred material for packag- ing water; where syrup is concerned, PET increased by 47.62% from 2011 to 2012 whereas the popularity of other types of packaging decreased. My visits in my capacity as editor took place in the metropolitan area around Tunis. Here I visited recyclers Green Line and Sogedes, together with the processors La Preforme and the corporate groups SIPA, Omega Maghreb and Valorflakes. Recycling is an omnipresent topic and, from an envi- ronmental point of view, is actually one of the most impor- tant topics addressed over the past few years. In 1997, the “Eco-Lef” programme was introduced by the waste management authority ANGed (Agence Nationale de Ges- tion des Déchets). This body, responsible for the ecological handling of plastic waste, has been the source of attempts at not only at keeping the environment cleaner but also at recycling the materials in a practical way and creating the appropriate infrastructure. However, as I learned in the course of my discussions, the situation on a practical, day-to-day level is not being tackled as a priority either by the government or by the Tunisian people. Although the government has been trying for a long time now to do justice to the growing economy and urbanisation as far as environmental matters are concerned and, at least in the centres of population, to ensure opportunities and programmes to deal with waste disposal, the observer cannot ignore the popula- tion’s mindset when it comes to disposal, i.e. where there are people, environmental pollution will be high. Above all, it is plastics waste and, in particular, the PET bottle and the PE bag, that present challenges to the environment, it is practically everywhere on the streets and roads and has been for some time a national problem. Hopes are being pinned on Eco-Lef and a sustained increase in the degree of general environmental aware- ness. In some areas soils and ground water are contami- nated by toxic leachate. This is simply due to landfills being used to dump all kinds of post-consumer waste. Worse, many of the landfill sites are illegal. Once people find that waste is practically on their doorsteps, they might start to dispose of their waste more ecologically. Of course they may also lead to harmful emissions. The Tunisian revolu- tion of 2010-2011 shifted the emphasis of the recycling project, not always to good effect. Efforts on the part of the municipal authorities to pro- mote the collection of recyclables by setting up a few offi- Per head consumption in North Africa (in litres) (Source: Canadean) Tunisia Algeria Morocco Beverage Category 2011 2012 2013 2014F 2011 2012 2013 2014F 2011 2012 2013 2014F Carbonates 48.15 53.54 54.18 55.41 38.73 40.27 39.37 40.27 21.82 21.83 21.22 21.24 Energy Drinks 0.16 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.12 Fruit Powders 0.61 0.67 0.72 0.76 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.77 0.77 0.78 0.80 Iced/RTD Coffee Drinks 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Iced/RTD Tea Drinks 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Juice* 0.20 0.23 0.24 0.25 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.18 Nectars* 3.91 4.02 4.10 4.18 0.46 0.54 0.64 0.69 2.57 2.73 2.82 2.87 Packaged Water 95.48 99.58 104.98 110.98 29.98 32.69 34.00 35.19 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 Sports Drinks 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.69 1.14 1.28 1.35 Squash/Syrups 1.50 1.50 1.52 1.54 0.07 0.08 0.08 0.09 13.71 14.01 14.53 15.16 Still Drinks* 3.67 3.88 4.12 4.38 13.03 14.35 16.09 18.21 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 Beer 13.19 13.18 13.32 13.39 3.03 3.36 3.49 n/a 2.70 2.66 2.61 2.52 Hot Coffee 21.19 21.06 21.06 21.07 n/a n/a n/a n/a 92.70 93.20 93.44 93.61 Hot Tea 32.18 32.05 32.09 32.05 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2.06 2.05 2.02 2.01