With over 70% of our members' PET bottles and jars now successfully recycled, our goal is to achieve similar results for LBP in the long-term." Since 2023, when Petco introduced an EPR scheme for LBP, strategic industry-driven infrastructure investments have seen LBP collection and recycling rates triple from 8% each to 24% and 26% respectively. A key focus for 2024, Chauke said, was partnering with member Tetra Pak in the deployment of a team of buy-back centre liaison officers and regional recycling officers to enhance the collection and recycling of LBP nationwide. Serving as contact points to strengthen linkages between buy-back centres, waste pickers, municipal authorities and industry stakeholders, the team's role is to address regional collection challenges and foster local solutions. "Petco's distinct value offering to members is having a team on the ground dedicated to ensuring the flow of materials to our recyclers," she said.