ARDAGH Glass Packaging South Africa’s strong focus on glass recycling is driven not only by legislative requirements but is also a critical part of the company’s Sustainability Strategy.
Ardagh’s money4glass programme, launched in July 2023, is helping to drive a substantial increase in glass recycling, with exponential growth already recorded in the amount of glass waste collected. The programme empowers all levels of recyclers across South Africa and as required by South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility legislation, money4glass purposely focuses on the integration of waste pickers into the country’s formal waste economy.
The number of waste pickers registered on the innovative platform has grown to 1,897, driving notable increases in material collected and transacted — from 42 tonnes in July 2023 to 38,377 tonnes by December 2025. This growth translated into significant financial impact: between June 2023 and December 2025, a total of R5.7 million has been paid to waste pickers, which includes the legislated service fee payment.
Importantly, the platform empowers recycling value chain players, enables enterprise development, and strengthens efficiencies of waste collection networks, including informal collectors. All this drives economic empowerment and small business development.
With 18 March being Global Recycling Day,Ardagh is paying tribute to its many ‘Recycling Heroes’, including Pietermaritzburg-based K.V.M. recyclers.
K.V.M Recyclers is a family-run business which has been specialising in glass recycling since 2010 and is now an up-and-coming glass supplier to Ardagh Glass Packaging. It is relatively new to the money4glass programme, but is already seeing its benefits.
The KwaZulu-Natal-based glass recycling business has also been transacting on the platform for about eight months, and managing director Keegan Moodley believes that a key benefit of the platform is building relationships within the industry.
“money4glass makes the glass recycling chain more efficient by encouraging glass sellers to partner with glass buyers, and transactions are simple,” says Moodley.
It is for this reason that K.V.M. Recyclers is encouraging smaller recycling companies to join the BanQu platform. “On the money4glass programme we can offer our suppliers incentives for the glass they sell to us as well as competitive rates,” explains Moodley. “This is a win-win for both parties as the more tonnage you supply, the more incentives you can earn.”
The larger recycling centres must often travel long distances to collect recycled glass, and the transport costs are a significant barrier to growth for these companies.
“The money4glass programme offers an added incentive for our business by paying transport subsidies, which allows us to grow at a faster rate,” says Moodley, who adds that TGRC also assists by providing consumables for waste collectors, such as protective wear and bulk bags.
At first, the BanQu platform was a bit tricky to navigate, but Moodley is grateful for the ongoing assistance they receive from Ardagh to ensure they are familiar and comfortable with the system.
“We would personally recommend money4glass to other glass recycling companies and smaller glass suppliers because of the benefits and the opportunities it provides to grow your business,” adds Moodley.
“We also encourage smaller businesses who specialise in glass recycling to partner with us on the money4glass programme.”
