Plastic bottles can be recycled for money in South Africa, but the price depends heavily on the type of plastic, how clean it is, and whether you have enough weight to make the trip worthwhile.
As a working guide, clean PET plastic bottles often pay around R3 per kg, while HDPE containers can be higher, with some price trackers showing roughly R4 to R5 per kg for clean HDPE. Mixed plastic can pay much less, sometimes under R1 per kg.
The important part is this: buyers do not pay one flat price for “plastic”. They pay by type, grade, cleanliness and demand.
Plastic bottle recycling prices per kg in South Africa
Here is a practical price guide for common plastic bottle material.
| Plastic type | Common examples | Indicative price per kg | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET clear bottles | 2-litre cooldrink bottles, water bottles | Around R3/kg | Often the easiest plastic bottle type to sell |
| PET coloured bottles | Green or brown PET bottles | Around R1.50 to R3/kg | May pay less than clear PET depending on the buyer |
| HDPE bottles | Milk bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles | Around R2.50 to R5/kg | Clean HDPE can pay better than mixed plastic |
| Mixed plastic | Unsorted bags of different plastics | Around R0.30 to R1/kg | Usually pays lowest because sorting is still needed |
| Plastic caps | Bottle caps, closures | Buyer dependent | Often collected separately from PET bottles |
These are indicative ranges, not fixed national prices. Always phone your nearest buy-back centre before collecting large volumes.
PET vs HDPE: why the plastic number matters
Most plastic packaging has a recycling number, usually inside a triangle.
For bottle collectors, the most important numbers are:
- 1 PET: cooldrink bottles, water bottles and some food containers
- 2 HDPE: milk bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles and some household containers
PET and HDPE are not the same material, and buyers may pay different prices for them. If you mix them together, the load may be downgraded or the buyer may make you sort it before weighing.
The easiest beginner rule is: keep clear cooldrink and water bottles in one bag, milk and detergent bottles in another, and mixed plastic in a separate bag.
Why clear PET bottles may pay more
Clear PET is easier to recycle into new material because it does not carry the same colour contamination as green, brown or mixed PET.
Buy-back centres may therefore prefer:
- clear PET bottles
- bottles with little or no liquid inside
- bottles without food residue
- bottles sorted away from other plastic
- large bags with enough weight to process efficiently
Coloured PET can still have value, but it may be priced differently.
How many plastic bottles make 1 kg?
It depends on the bottle size and thickness. A rough guide is:
| Bottle type | Approximate bottles for 1 kg |
|---|---|
| 500 ml water bottles | 35 to 45 bottles |
| 1 litre PET bottles | 25 to 35 bottles |
| 2 litre cooldrink bottles | 20 to 25 bottles |
| 2 litre milk bottles or HDPE containers | Varies widely by bottle weight |
Because bottles are bulky and light, the challenge is storage and transport. You need volume before the money becomes meaningful.
How much can you make from plastic bottles?
Here is a simple estimate using PET bottles at R3/kg.
| Weight collected | Estimated value at R3/kg |
|---|---|
| 5 kg | R15 |
| 10 kg | R30 |
| 25 kg | R75 |
| 50 kg | R150 |
| 100 kg | R300 |
At small household level, plastic bottle recycling is pocket money. As a side hustle, it only starts making sense when you collect from several homes, a school, restaurant, event venue, office, church, tavern, sports club or small shopping area.
How to prepare plastic bottles for a better price
Clean, sorted bottles are easier to sell.
Before taking bottles to a buyer:
- Empty every bottle.
- Rinse sticky cooldrink or milk bottles if possible.
- Let bottles drain so you are not transporting water weight.
- Separate clear PET, coloured PET and HDPE.
- Remove obvious rubbish from the bags.
- Ask the buyer whether caps and labels should stay on or come off.
- Crush bottles if the buyer accepts crushed bottles.
- Keep wet, oily or food-contaminated plastics out of the clean bag.
Do not mix plastic bottles with glass, cans, paper, food waste or nappies. A contaminated bag can reduce the price or be rejected.
Should you remove bottle caps?
Ask the buyer. Some recycling systems want caps left on, while others want them removed and collected separately.
Caps are often made from a different plastic to the bottle. For example, a PET bottle may have an HDPE or PP cap. That does not automatically make it worthless, but it can affect sorting.
If you are not sure, keep caps in a separate bag and ask the buy-back centre what they prefer.
Where to sell plastic bottles in South Africa
You can sell plastic bottles at:
- recycling buy-back centres
- plastic recycling depots
- community recycling projects
- waste reclaiming centres
- some scrap yards that also buy recyclables
- collectors who buy from households and resell in bulk
PETCO has a buy-back centre directory where you can look for centres by province. Some local recycling projects also publish what they accept, but many do not publish prices online because rates change.
Before going, ask:
- Do you buy PET bottles?
- Do you buy HDPE bottles?
- What is today’s price per kg?
- Do you pay different prices for clear and coloured PET?
- Must the bottles be crushed?
- Do you require a minimum weight?
- Do you pay cash, EFT or wallet?
Plastic bottles vs aluminium cans
Aluminium cans usually pay more per kg than plastic bottles, but cans are also light. Plastic bottles pay less per kg, but they are common and easier to collect from households.
For a beginner recycling route, it often makes sense to collect both:
- plastic bottles in one bag
- aluminium cans in another bag
- cardboard or paper separately if your buyer accepts them
If you also collect cans, see the aluminium can recycling prices guide so you do not mix aluminium cans with steel tins or plastic.
Plastic bottles vs scrap metal
Plastic bottle recycling is easier to start than scrap metal collecting because the material is common and low-risk. But it usually pays much less per kg.
Scrap metal prices can be much higher for copper, brass and aluminium, but those materials are harder to source legally and consistently. Plastic bottles are better for building a small, regular collection route.
Is plastic bottle recycling a good side hustle?
It can be, but only if you control three things:
- volume
- transport cost
- sorting quality
If you spend R80 on transport to sell R40 worth of bottles, the side hustle is not working. If you collect from a regular route and sell several material types at once, the numbers improve.
The best small setup is:
- Find a buyer first.
- Confirm what they buy and what they pay.
- Start with one or two materials, such as PET bottles and aluminium cans.
- Set up labelled bags or drums.
- Collect weekly or monthly.
- Track weight, payout and transport cost.
Do not collect everything. Collect what your buyer actually pays for.
Frequently asked questions
How much are plastic bottles worth per kg in South Africa?
Clean PET plastic bottles often pay around R3 per kg, while clean HDPE containers may pay around R2.50 to R5 per kg. Mixed plastic can pay much less.
What plastic bottles pay the most?
Clean, sorted PET and HDPE bottles usually pay better than mixed plastic. Clear PET may be preferred over coloured PET by some buyers.
What is PET plastic?
PET is plastic number 1. It is commonly used for cooldrink bottles, water bottles and some food containers.
What is HDPE plastic?
HDPE is plastic number 2. It is commonly used for milk bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles and some household containers.
Should I crush plastic bottles before selling them?
Crushing saves space, but ask your buyer first. Some centres accept crushed bottles, while others prefer to inspect bottles before processing.
Do I need to wash plastic bottles before recycling?
You do not always need them spotless, but they should be empty and reasonably clean. Sticky, wet or food-contaminated bottles can reduce the price or cause rejection.
Where can I sell plastic bottles?
Try recycling buy-back centres, plastic recycling depots, community recycling projects and waste reclaiming centres. Phone first to confirm the current price and accepted materials.
Can I make money collecting plastic bottles?
Yes, but the money depends on volume. A few bags from one household will not pay much. A steady route from homes, schools, restaurants or events can become more useful.
