eWASA appoints packaging executive for Section 18 EPR

eWASA (e-Waste Association of South Africa) has appointed a new packaging executive to help improve the reporting and treatment of packaging waste streams, while also creating logistics networks that will boost efficiencies.

he waste management association T announced the appointment of Adri Spangenberg as packaging executive with effect from 1 July 2022. Keith Anderson, CEO of eWASA, says in order for the association to be compliant with the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008) and the Industry Waste Management Plan (IWMP), eWASA has registered as a PRO (Producer Responsibility Organisation) in three sectors, namely electrical and electronic equipment, lighting, as well as paper and packaging. “All three of these sectors have their own types of packaging, which need to form part of our strategy as we aim to create a ‘one-stop shop’ for our members. Since inception, we have always strived to be different at eWASA. That is why we are the only PRO to be registered in all three sectors under the EPR Regulations. Electrical and electronic equipment waste has always been our core competency but now we also have great expertise in the packaging sector,” says Anderson.

Explaining why the company decided to register as a PRO for paper and packaging, Anderson says it was done primarily to assist its producer members who have different waste streams to deal with across all three sectors. “So, we are not only bringing operational efficiencies to our members but also simplicity and cost-effectiveness.”

Anderson says that bringing in Spangenberg – who has ample experience in dealing with packaging, recycling, developing end markets and understanding the challenges in the industry – is of great benefit to the organisation.

“We have already seen the benefits of introducing this new position. Adri and the rest of our team have already had a number of positive workshops with our producer members, enabling them to understand and comply with the packaging EPR (Extended

Producer Responsibility) Regulations as well as the other waste streams.”

Through its EPR scheme, eWASA says its primarly focus will be to divert waste from landfill and increase the environmentally sound treatment and circularity of the products put on market by its producer members. Furthermore, the association wants to expand education and awareness about the various waste streams, as well as job creation in both the formal and informal sectors.

Over the past 12 years, Spangenberg was instrumental in growing South Africa’s polystyrene recycling industry to become one of the world leaders in her position as CEO of the Polystyrene Association of SA (PolySA). She was also the CEO of the SA Vinyls Association (SAVA).

Commenting on her new position, Spangenberg expressed that she is very excited about the opportunities and experiences that await her as part of the eWASA team.

“Since its inception in 2008, eWASA has grown an impressive footprint in the country. They represent some of the largest producers of the household electrical and electronic industry. Moreover, many of their recyclers have a national footprint and are therefore in the ideal position to handle packaging collection and recycling. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply my knowledge of both the packaging and the recycling industries as I assist eWASA with the development of their collection and recovery initiatives for packaging waste that accompanies the products.

“We not only have to ensure that we meet the strict targets that have been set by government, but must also strive to do it in such a way that it helps to grow and benefit the industry and develop a true circular economy,” Spangenberg concluded.

eWASA was established in 2008 to manage the establishment of a sustainable environmentally sound e-waste management system for the country. Since then, the nonprofit organisation has been working closely with manufacturers, vendors and distributors of electronic and electrical goods and e-waste handlers to manage e-waste effectively. With support from the Global Knowledge Partnerships in e-Waste Recycling programme, initiated by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and implemented by the Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, several projects were initiated successfully in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Gauteng, as early as 2004. As an industry association, eWASA also works closely with all levels of government and has positioned itself as an expert in the field of e-waste management. Both the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Trade and Industry agree that eWASA is ideally placed to manage the e-waste take-back system under the EPR requirement in the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008).