As a leader in waste management, EnviroServ is deeply committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focussing on two areas: enhancing its own operations to foster a safer, more sustainable environment for people and the planet, and helping businesses reduce their ecological footprint and adopt sustainable industry practices. P4
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. All material herein is copyright protected. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of IWMSA or the publishers.
All material herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions of authors expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, editor or the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa.
TAKING IT SERIOUSLY
The first time ‘waste as wealth’ was used in a public recycling campaign was in the early 1900s, in 2025 the sector is still trying to get this message across.
South Africa is at a pivotal moment, the Just Energy Transition and the emerging circular economy are all pointing to a future that is climate resilient, sustainable, and ‘cleaner.’ There is a lot of work to be done, and more importantly there is a lot of work currently being done. The waste sector is in many ways underappreciated, with the vast majority of work going on away from the public’s eyes. Whether that is toilet water being treated, waste pickers sorting through household waste, recyclers producing innovative products, scientists working on complex data sets, landfills being made greener, or smallscale projects making an enormous impact, the work of the waste sector is vital to South Africa’s sustainability ambitions.
What is called ‘waste’ is a R15 billion sector. This magazine is called ReSource, not Waste, for a reason. While a cliche, the saying rings true: one person’s trash is another’s treasure. There is real economic value in recycling, sustainable design, and the infrastructure and logistics that underpin the sector. That 1900s campaign was not “waste to wealth” but “waste as wealth” showing the inherent value is the things that we toss out. Nowadays that saying is even more true, waste is wealth. Waste is sustaining livelihoods from waste pickers to large-scale environmental consulting, and South Africa needs to leverage any wealth it has access to for the economy to grow. The rate of
unemployment and poverty should be a concern for anyone living in the country, and the waste sector is doing more than its share of fighting this social harm. In 2025 we cannot still be asking people to consider “waste as wealth”, we must show and celebrate the economic success of the sector.
While waste is an economically viable and uplighting sector, the real sticking point is that waste and linear economic practices are environmentally damaging. Whether that is illegal dumping into South Africa’s river systems, leachate into our soil, or carbon emissions causing climate change, the environment and its ability to sustain humanity are at risk. Climate change is real, and it is here, and it threatens the lives and livelihoods of billions of people, and the planet. Work in the waste sector is inherently environmental, and the passionate people who pour their lives into the sector are working towards a sustainable future.
The sector has been saying this for years, “waste as wealth” and there is no question that waste is a resource, both economically and socially.
COVER OPPORTUNITY
In each issue, ReSource offers companies the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the magazine. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information, contact Sindi Moni on +27 (0)82 212 4574, or email sindi@infrastructurenews.co.za.
As a forward-thinking company within the environmental sector, EnviroServ, sub-Saharan Africa’s leading waste management company, is deeply committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION:
how EnviroServ contributes to Global SDGs
With a solid history spanning over 45 years, EnviroServ now benefits from the global expertise and financial backing of its new owners – SUEZ, Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH), and African Infrastructure Investment Managers –who actively support its commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation and responsible waste management solutions.”
EnviroServ focusses on two areas: enhancing its own operations to foster a safer, more sustainable environment for people and the planet, and helping businesses reduce their ecological footprint and adopt sustainable industry practices.
“Internally, we are constantly working towards achieving our own sustainable development targets, while also providing solutions to our customers that create economic, environmental and social value. We assist customers in moving toward a circular economy by supporting them with their various strategies, like zero waste, reduced emissions or resource conservation, and ultimately taking a step forward in reaching their various SDGs,” says Dave Morrey, commercial director, EnviroServ.
Waste management impacts all 17 SDGs by influencing environmental sustainability, economic growth, social well-being, and climate resilience. “Good waste management creates positive environmental, economic and social outcomes,” explains Morrey.
Morrey details how EnviroServ actively contributes towards the SDGs:
SDG 1: No poverty
EnviroServ operates in a dynamic sector that generates a wide range of jobs across various levels of expertise, including
Dave Morrey, commercial director, EnviroServ
in logistics, sales, transportation, waste collection, treatment and disposal as well as recycling and circular economy activities.
“EnviroServ has found creative ways to tackle poverty through forming joint ventures with local partners wherever possible. We prioritise the employment of people from local communities in various waste management projects around the country. For example, at two of our waste management facilities, waste reclaimers rely on recyclable waste for their livelihoods. EnviroServ supports this by providing the necessary training and personal protective equipment. The communities benefit fully from the economic value of the recyclable waste.”
SDG 2: Zero hunger
Composting organic waste improves soil health and agricultural productivity. EnviroServ works with a number of fastmoving consumer goods companies that produce beverages and food. They use the organic waste from those production processes to make compost and even offer onsite solutions for customers in the form of mobile composting units.
“Additionally, in communities around our Holfontein waste management facility, there are projects sponsored by the company that help ensure people have access to food.
EnviroServ has sponsored agricultural training for the Holfontein community to teach them how to start gardens and farm sustainably,” states Morrey.
SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing
Effective waste management helps maintain clean air and water, reducing the risk of diseases. It further drastically reduces unpleasant odours and keeps communities free from rodents and flies, creating a healthier and more hygienic environment. “At all our waste management facilities, we adopt best practices and operate in full compliance with legislation to ensure there is no negative impact on our neighbours,” reiterates Morrey.
He adds, “Our commitment to good health and well-being starts with a dedication to the thousands of men and women in our employ. Necessary SHEQ and other precautionary measures are in place to ensure that, at all times, our team members are safe.”
SDG 4: Quality education
EnviroServ launched an annual national ‘Dress a Learner’ programme in 2014, where each year, 210 learners from child-headed homes,
learners with unemployed parents, and those facing other unfortunate circumstances from different schools receive brand new school uniforms to kick-start the year. The main objective of the programme is to bring dignity to learners, promoting less absenteeism and fewer incidents of bullying.
Morrey also highlights the company’s commitment to youth development through learnerships for matriculants and internships for graduates. These programmes upskill young people, including those with disabilities, providing essential skills for future employability.
“Additionally, EnviroServ visits schools. holds webinars and presents papers at local and international forums on a range of topics related to waste management, the circular economy, and sustainability.”
SDG 5: Gender equality
In 2017, EnviroServ developed a comprehensive Transformation Charter, committed to embracing inclusion, diversity, and fair business practices. EnviroServ has made a concerted effort to address the underrepresentation of females in historically male-dominated management roles.
“This diversity brings broader perspectives and insights into business challenges, enabling us to enhance processes and systems. EnviroServ’s success is built on valuing and respecting the contributions and innovations of every team member,” adds Morrey.
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
EnviroServ’s ethical, compliant, and responsible waste management protects water sources –both groundwater and surface water – helping to reduce waterborne illnesses.
Sustainable wastewater treatment improves water recovery and reuse. As a SUEZ company, EnviroServ offers expertise in desalination and can design, build, and operate water and wastewater treatment plants. The company has technologies that can improve drinking water quality, reduce pollution, and provide leak detection tools for distribution networks,
thereby reducing the loss of non-revenue water and making water an economically viable resource for the public sector. EnviroServ also has proprietary technologies related to smart metering.
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
Waste to energy (WTE) facilities reduce the volume of waste while generating electricity or heat. These facilities process suitable waste through incineration, gasification, or anaerobic digestion, converting it into usable energy. This approach reduces landfill use, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to a circular economy.
“SUEZ operates numerous WTE facilities worldwide and EnviroServ therefore has strong competencies in the different technologies. We believe that WTE provides terrific public private partnership opportunities,” adds Morrey.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
EnviroServ employs around 2 300 staff members and adheres to applicable labour laws that protect workers. The company offers competitive compensation, and as elaborated above, ample career development opportunities. The company aims to grow the number of people trained in the workforce to 76% by 2028.
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
“By offering waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery solutions, we help industries minimise their environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiencies,” says Morrey.
The waste management sector is currently a hotbed of inspiration and innovation. This rapid innovation is not only improving efficiency but also unlocking new economic and environmental opportunities.
EnviroServ is involved in advanced landfill management methods that capture methane for energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote symbiotic relationships where one industry’s waste becomes another’s raw material, as well as carbon capture. Its integrated waste management facilities and green landfills are proof of the innovative nature of its operations and strict adherence to the improved regulatory framework.
SDG 10: Reduced equalities
Collaboration and diversity are some of EnviroServ’s core values. The company regards broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) as a strategy to open up opportunities for previously disadvantaged communities and individuals. It recently retained its Level 1 BBBEE status.
Chloorkop gas flare
“This is a significant milestone for our stakeholders, as purchasing from Level 1 suppliers can directly enhance your company’s BBBEE performance. The accomplishment goes beyond compliance – it demonstrates EnviroServ’s ongoing dedication to contributing positively to society and fostering long-term sustainable growth,” notes Morrey.
He adds that preferential procurement is directed to previously marginalised communities and that these SMMEs employ people from local communities. The company has no fewer than 800 suppliers, all of whom employ individuals who support families and communities.
In South Africa, the waste landscape is deeply tiered. Large corporations prioritise sustainable waste management, investing in efficient systems and environmental responsibility. In contrast, poorer communities often lack even basic waste management services, making sustainable practices unaffordable and impractical. This disparity exacerbates environmental and health challenges, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive waste solutions.
“How do we achieve sustainable solutions that are effective for all but also affordable? We need to get the basics right; we need to service all of our communities in an affordable way that allows waste to be directed to better outcomes. The first step in waste management is simply removing waste from the areas where it has been produced and then centralising it where it can be reused and recycled or directed to a properly managed landfill. Infrastructure must be in place so that all waste can be collected responsibly and repeatedly in compliance with
Leachate plant in Uganda
legislation. EnviroServ is well-positioned and wiling to partner with municipalities to assist in this regard,” comments Morrey.
SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Efficient waste management reduces pollution, making cities cleaner and healthier. EnviroServ partners with clients across multiple sectors to ensure that all waste streams are wellmanaged and traceable. The company further advises customers on how to attain their sustainability targets.
“We collaborate with local stakeholders on public health and awareness programs to promote cleaner communities. In Motherwell, Eastern Cape, EnviroServ helped start the Motherwell Buyback Centre. Community members are able to take their recyclables there and earn an income. Similarly, over 300 waste reclaimers in Gauteng help keep communities clean by collecting recyclables,” mentions Morrey.
SDG12: Responsible consumption and production
EnviroServ supports the waste hierarchy, helping clients substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery. “We ensure the environmentally sound management of waste through source segregation and recycling. It is crucial to gain a deep understanding of the secondary and tertiary impacts of waste, identify its sources, and assess its broader environmental and social consequences. Industries should be weary of abdicating responsibility and assuming that waste will be taken care of down the line,” cautions Morrey.
Additionally, EnviroServ, as a waste management company operating in South Africa, must adhere to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) and support the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS), which covers waste management from ‘cradle to grave’. Customers can therefore have peace of mind knowing that for years, EnviroServ has handled waste responsibly and continues to do so.
SDG13: Climate action
The company has set a sustainability target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at its six waste management facilities by 60% by 2028.
This is done through the reduction of methane gas. Most landfills produce methane. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, cutting methane emissions by 45% by 2030 could help meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to less than 1.5° C.
“We have also been converting methane to carbon dioxide, a gas seen as having 28 times less impact on global warming when compared to methane, as well as extracting methane and giving it to industry as an energy alternative. Adapting our facilities using international best practice has already resulted in a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since 2022, so we have already made a significant stride towards our 60% goal for 2028,” adds Morrey.
SDG 14: Life below water
SDG15: Life on land
Good waste management practices prevent waste from ending up in the environment. EnviroServ’s actions invariably reduce waste, contributing to the prevention of ocean pollution, land degradation and soil contamination, inherently protecting marine life as well as biodiversity and ecosystems on land. Their wastewater treatment capabilities reduce chemical runoff into water bodies.
Focussing on its own green landfills, EnviroServ aims to double the amount of renatured and restored capped landfill areas by 2027, using 100% indigenous species. Almost 26 hectares of land will be renatured across EnviroServ’s operating sites, as the company plans to double the amount of land restored by 2027. Within the same timeline, no phytosanitary products will be used in any of the company’s green spaces or facilities.
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Morrey adds that many waste challenges are difficult to solve without compliance. “Fortunately, entities in South Africa face mounting pressure to manage waste responsibly, with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment showing a willingness to bring non-compliant public and private entities to book.”
“EnviroServ prides itself in giving clients environmental peace of mind. We work with
clients to ensure that all regulatory frameworks are followed and safety mechanisms are in place. We focus on providing compliant solutions with compliant outcomes.”
SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
“We collaborate with clients across the waste management cycle, starting by understanding their needs. Improper segregation and contamination often hinder recycling efficiency, so we provide labour and equipment to ensure proper waste separation, minimizing contamination and maximizing environmental outcomes.”
EnviroServ then goes a step further by sourcing the partners that can take that waste and recycle or reuse it. “They may be the typical paperboard manufacturers, glass recyclers and plastic recyclers. Then there are more novel partnerships around organic waste for farming and animal nutrition or recyclers of waste that contains used oils and hydrocarbons as an alternative energy source to coal, there are also solvent recyclers.”
Waste is multi-faceted. Almost all waste that comes from a client’s site is, to a degree, unique. Each company has its own manufacturing processes and raw materials and packaging. “Therefore, it is impossible for a single company to have solutions for every type of waste. That is why we look both internally and externally for solutions when dealing with a client’s waste,” says Morrey.
EnviroServ is also geared towards partnering with government to improve waste and water basic services. “There is a willingness for the private sector and municipalities to engage with public private partnerships to provide next level solutions that ensure exemplary waste management practises,” he concludes.
THE VALUE OF WASTE ‘BEYOND THE BIN’: how we can fuel our circular future
As the newly elected President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), I am truly honoured to lead an organisation that stands at the forefront of advancing sustainable waste management practices across our beautiful country.
The IWMSA has played a pivotal role in championing effective waste management solutions since its inception in 1976. As we celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, it is an opportune time to reflect on our journey and look towards the future with renewed vigour and purpose.
The landscape of waste management is evolving rapidly, and we find ourselves in an era where waste is not merely a problem, but a resource with immense potential – essentially, waste has ‘value beyond the bin’. The concept of a circular economy challenges us to rethink our relationship with materials and waste. Rather than viewing these materials as expendable, we must recognise their inherent value.
In a circular economy, materials are reused, recycled and repurposed, allowing us to reduce the pressure on our environment and create a more sustainable and resilient economic system. Embracing circularity is no longer optional; it is imperative for the health of our planet and future generations.
Waste management is critical to achieving this vision. The IWMSA will continue to champion initiatives that highlight the importance of reducing
waste at its source and promoting practices that extend the lifecycle of materials. By implementing best practices and innovative strategies, we can help businesses and individuals alike transition towards a more sustainable future.
My commitment to the IWMSA and its members is unwavering. I am dedicated to ensuring that the institute remains relevant and innovative in our rapidly changing world. I aim to raise the value proposition for members by enhancing IWMSA’s credibility and modernising its governance and operations. We must also ensure that our members’ voices are amplified and that their contributions are recognised in the waste management sector.
Additionally, we have a responsibility to our environment and society. We need to continue advocating for policies that support sustainable practices and empower businesses to adopt circular economy principles. Through education and collaboration, we can equip individuals and organisations with the necessary tools to drive change in their communities.
My vision for the IWMSA encompasses several key objectives, including: promoting waste minimisation, exploring alternatives to landfills,
and implementing measures to combat climate change. It’s important that we celebrate our diversity and work tirelessly to create a legacy of innovation. By establishing benchmarks for best practices in waste management, we can set the pace for progress and inspire change within our sector.
As we move forward, I invite all stakeholders –members, businesses and communities – to join us in this journey. Together, we can ensure that waste management evolves into a powerful, regenerative force for good. Let’s work towards a cleaner, greener future that honours our commitment to both our people and our planet.
Patricia Schröder, President, IWMSA
KEY EVENTS AND
2025 IWMSA’S BOLD START LEADERSHIP INAUGURATION WITH
The Integrated Waste Management Institute of Southern Africa (IWMSA) started 2025 with a bang. Patron member site visits, various training sessions, special events, and the institute’s presidential inauguration all took place highlighting IWMSA’s continuous commitment to the sector.
Patron member site visits
IWMSA has 16 patron members, these members are in Nicolle de Bruyn’s, executive officer for IWMSA, words “committed to advancing sustainable waste management practices across region.”
Part of de Bruyn’s duties is to perform “site visits” where she represents the IWMSA on a guided visit that helps the IWMSA understand their patron members and their needs so that the IWMSA can better represent them and their sustainability commitments.
This is not a courtesy, but rather as Nicolle elaborates, “a strategic commitment to strengthening our partnerships, understanding industry challenges, and ensuring that IWMSA remains aligned with the needs of its most dedicated supporters.” These visits allow IWMSA to:
• Acknowledge and appreciate their invaluable contributions to the industry and to IWMSA.
• Stay informed about their latest innovations, challenges, and strategic goals.
• Enhance collaboration, ensuring that IWMSA’s initiatives and training programs are relevant and beneficial.
• Promote industry excellence, sharing insights and best practices among our broader membership.
De Bruyn says, “Patron Members are the backbone of our organisation, providing crucial support that enables us to drive education, advocacy, and professional development within the waste management sector. Their expertise, resources, and leadership help shape the future of sustainable waste solutions in Southern Africa.”
By engaging with these members regularly, IWMSA not only strengthens their relationships but also reaffirms the shared commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
The latest site visits were:
• ELB Equipment
• Oilkol
• Enviroserv
• Interwaste
New patron member: AKS Lining Systems
AKS Lining Systems has manufactured specialised thermoplastic products since 2002. Their products include corrosion protection liners and geomembrane liners- these are instrumental to the environmental well-being of mining, water and waste treatment, conveyance of sewerage, construction, and general infrastructure projects.
AKS is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and supplies the local market as well as the SADC region and exports to more than 30 countries worldwide. Becoming a Patron member of the Institute of Waste Management Southern Africa (IWMSA) demonstrates their commitment to being responsible within the integrated waste sector. As a patron member, they uphold the IWMSA’s goal of “striving towards the protection of the environment and people of southern Africa from the adverse effects of poor waste management by supporting sustainable best practical environmental options.”
Nicolle de Bruyn welcomes AKS Lining Systems saying, “Their commitment is welcome, and we look forward to our partnership in this space.”
Interwaste
ELB Equipment
EnviroServ
At the KZN Waste Management Awards, IWMSA introduced a brand-new category: the ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ Award, with a stunning trophy generously sponsored by Circular Energy NPC
Attendees at the Presidential Inauguration of Patricia Schröder
The IWMSA Council participated in a workshop on board leadership, corporate governance, and strategic alignment
Hosted
Eastern Cape Branch of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa
Central Branch Golf Day
The 24 th President and 5 th female leader of the Institute, Patricia Schröder
GEOSYNTHETICS, THE UNSUNG HEROES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE WASTE SECTOR
A
The waste sector has to stay up to date with the latest trends in environmental protection. With new technologies and policies springing up around South Africa’s move towards the circular economy, older technology must be reevaluated in favour of more efficient and cleaner practices.
By Duncan Nortier
However, there is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water when it comes to tried, tested, and trusted technology that works. Modern geosynthetics have been around in some form since the 1950s, and today they are still a necessity in various applications across the waste sector, including landfills, mining waste management, drainage, and construction.
Brendon Jewaskiewitz, managing director of Envitech, a professional engineering organisation, says “Geosynthetics are often used to create effective barrier lining systems. It’s a simple concept, putting a protective layer between potentially harmful materials and the receiving environment. Geosynthetics are often extremely important pieces of technology in the quest to prevent the contamination of valuable groundwater.”
Geosynthetics are typically manufactured using various polymers. These are not naturally occurring materials but rather man-made for engineering applications, and in the case of lining systems, the specific task of protecting the environment against the effects of human activities.
Brendon Jewaskiewitz, managing director of Envitech
Jewaskiewitz adds, “in the context of waste management, geosynthetics are widely found in the design and construction of containment systems,” which he says can include• Landfill basal liners - barrier systems composed of multiple layers, typically including geomembranes, geotextiles, and clay materials, to prevent leachate migration.
Geosynthetic liner being rolled out before being joined to the rolls
landfill site preparing a roll of geosynthetic liner
• Leachate ponds - containment systems for collecting leachate that will eventually be treated.
• Mine waste facilities – storage systems for the byproducts and residues of mining activities, and pollution control systems.
From beginning to end
While geosynthetics are widely used in the construction of landfills, they can be equally important in the closure and rehabilitation of a landfill. Jewaskiewitz explains, “the principle that guides the use of geosynthetics in landfill closure is generally the minimisation of leachate generation and the prevention of stormwater contamination. When a landfill is closed, it does not suddenly become environmentally neutral, there is a real need to limit the infiltration of rainfall, to manage the existing moisture regime within a landfill, and to prevent the contamination of runoff.”
When a landfill is closed, there needs to be a capping and stormwater runoff management system that limits the volume of clean water reaching the waste within the landfill. “Capping is again, simple in concept, vital in application. It can be a permeable or impermeable system constructed over the waste body landfill that either allows a certain amount of infiltration or seals it off from the external environment” adds Jewaskiewitz. This capping and runoff system is also designed specifically to divert clean stormwater runoff away from the site.
Geosynthetics in South Africa
Modern geosynthetic lining systems only really gained widespread traction in South Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, Jewaskiewitz says, “This technology is particularly important in the South African context. We are generally a waterscarce country, and the prevention of leachate contamination of our groundwater is a necessity.”
The use of geosynthetics in environmental protection systems is highly regulated. Jewaskiewitz breaks this down saying, “The sector relies on the overarching legal framework articulated in the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998). Then we have the National Environmental Management Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), and the National Norms and Standards for the disposal of waste to landfill, which deals directly with waste management and disposal.”
The National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) intends to provide for cooperative, environmental governance by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote cooperative governance and procedures for co-ordinating environmental functions exercised by organs of state.
The National Environmental Management Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008) aims to reform the law regulating waste management to protect health and the environment by providing reasonable measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation and for securing ecologically sustainable development; to provide for institutional arrangements and planning matters; to provide for national norms and standards for regulating the management of waste by all spheres of government; to provide for specific waste management measures; to provide for the licensing and control of waste management activities; to provide for the remediation of contaminated land; to provide for the national waste information system, and to provide for compliance and enforcement.
Geosynthetic linings have been used since the 1950’s and are just as relevant today
Jewaskiewitz goes on to say, “The nuts and bolts of the waste sector are covered in these acts and regulations, they clearly lay out what is necessary and inform best practice. For example, the Norms and Standards prescribe appropriate lining systems for various types of disposal facilities, and this accordingly informs the design, construction, and potential use of various geosynthetic materials, including quality control and quality assurance measures.”
Landfills today
While there is considerable effort to divert waste from landfills and promote robust recycling and reuse activities in South Africa, the reality is that landfills are still a valuable and necessary piece of the waste management puzzle. “They are not the most desirable option, but landfills are still very much needed, and it is our job to ensure they are as environmentally acceptable as possible. This means incorporating the concept of sustainability and ensuring quality in engineering designs, construction and the operation of these facilities,”adds Jewaskiewitz. Envitech, with 22 years of experience in the environmental engineering, waste and mining sectors, focuses on disposal facilities, geosynthetics, waste management, and pollution control, as well as a host of related activities, including construction quality assurance (CQA) and electrical leak location (ELL) for lining systems. Jewaskiewitz says, “Currently Envitech is responsible for the development of a new regional landfill site in Worcester, Western Cape, for the Cape Winelands District Municipality. Construction is expected to be complete by June this year. This project is a flagship for the Western Cape and aims to lead the way in the future of solid waste management.” Envitech is also working with the Emfuleni Municipality on another regional landfill site, and they are the engineers for the Vlakfontein Waste Management facility, a hazardous waste disposal facility for Averda. Landfills are a part of the waste landscape, whether it is pleasant or not, but they can have minimal environmental impact if they are designed and operated correctly, and make use of available technologies, including geosynthetics, to protect groundwater from possible contamination.
Geosynthetic liners are key line of defense against leachate
Breaking the battery down starts by separating the casing from the cells
THE REALITY OF BATTERY RECYCLING IN SOUTH AFRICA
E-waste is a growing problem in South Africa. The reliance on electronics for everything from communication to entertainment has led to rising demand for and use of electronics and batteries that will eventually need to be thrown away.
Batteries pose a serious threat if they end up in landfills, they contain toxic and hazardous materials that could turn to leachate or in extreme cases combust. It is imperative that South Africa begins to earnestly tackle batteries, as our reliance on them grows more.
One of the most effective ways to combat the effects batteries have on the environment is by responsibly recycling them. Reclite, a recycling company, started by recycling lighting lamps and from this understanding – separating the valuable from the toxic– they expanded into all waste
Steffen Schröder, Managing Director of Reclite
electrical and electronic equipment and battery recycling.
Negative
and positive recycling streams
Steffen Schröder, Managing Director of Reclite, says, “At the beginning of Reclite we
were bringing technology and processes from overseas to South Africa to show government how it works. Lamp recycling is a great benefit to the environment, but the process of separating the mercury from the glass, and aluminium or brass costs more than the yield.” Reclite would process the mercury from the lamps into mercury cinnabar, resembling how mercury is found in nature for an almost complete circular process.
“This is what we refer to as a negative waste stream, the motive for this recycling is purely environmental as the process costs more than the material yield from the recycling, but the point was also to bring these processes into South Africa’s waste sector.
Reclite’s campaign to bring recycling processes to South Africa, even on negative waste streams, worked and in 2016 the
company began accepting more e-waste such as laptops, phones, and eventually batteries. Battery recycling has become a large discussion in the public and industry sphere because of its ubiquity, and Schröder says, “Battery recycling can be a positive waste stream, one that turns a profit when done in sufficient quantities.”
As Schröder points out recycling is a social good, and an environmental necessity, and positive waste streams that turn a profit are useful not only for their economic gain, but they allow for negative waste streams to be processed without worrying about the cost. The recycling sector sits at a crossroads where the work in the sector is vital, but there is a need for funding and profit to keep the recycling activities going.
Battery recycling
“When we started accepting laptops, computers, and other products from ICT
Black mass, a black powder that results from shredding and processing end-oflife batteries, containing valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
space, we also started to come across backup batteries from solar. The solar industry’s rising popularity in South Africa led to more batteries that needed to be taken to the end-of-life phase,” adds Schröder.
The reality of batteries is that they are varied, and they each need to have their own recycling processes to deal with their specific chemical makeup.
“We are capable of recycling all household batteries here in South Africa, it is an entirely local process where the metal will go to smelters, and the cell separation material goes into energy recovery and the
recovered black mass, a concentrated mixture of various valuable metals and elements, is an additive or accelerant in other recycling processes,” says Schröder. This circularity is at the heart of battery recycling, where the potentially toxic material is used to aid other recycling processes, making recycling of household, usually alkaline batteries, extremely efficient. “Alkaline batteries are often thought of as environmentally friendly, but the reality is that the large volume used by society can be harmful when they end up in landfills,” adds Schröder.
Other household battery types such as nickel metal hydride batteries or nonrechargeable lithium batteries have metals in them that in higher concentrations have a negative environmental impact. There are also batteries containing electrolytes which need to be separated and processed. “With
Reclite processed
200 tonnes of batteries last year, yet they say South Africa has many more batteries being stored rather than processed
ELECTRONIC WASTE
nickel metal hydride there is nickel and zinc recovery, nickel-cadmium can yield nickel and cadmium, which is extremely toxic, and lithium recovery has become very important in battery recycling as the adoption of lithium batteries rises,” explains Schröder.
Lithium-ion batteries
The rechargeable lithium batteries pose their own challenges, as they are fast becoming the standard, but they also require special care. “It is important to note that while the reception of lithium-ion batteries is positive they are not created equally. From our side, it is important to differentiate between the high-quality lithium batteries like those used in electric vehicles, which can be a positive waste stream in high volumes,” says Schröder who goes on to say, “On the other end there are ferrophosphate lithium batteries-, like those found in laptops, smartphones, smartwatches.”
The lithium-ion revolution has made a lot of technology cheaper to make because ferrophosphate lithium-ion batteries are cheaper than batteries that rely on nickel, cobalt, and manganese but this also means that
of the new tech necessitates the safe disposal of the old tech.
Sourcing batteries
Reclite’s battery recycling sources their batteries from a variety of places. Within the waste industry, they work with Circular Energy, a producer responsibility organisation, that ensures battery producers are responsible for their own product’s end-of-life phase, this collaboration led to Reclite recycling hearing aid batteries.
The company also receives batteries from households through their Woolworths take-back retail stores, where Woolworths customers can drop off to recycle their old batteries in-store.
Schröder says “Reclite currently accept any battery type, from household to industrial, as well as any type of lithium-ion battery.” With lithium-ion batteries, the focus is on assessing them, and Reclite is in a trial phase where they reuse these batteries either for their own operations or community-based projects. “When we receive lithium-ion batteries, we recycle where it makes sense to do so, but we also focus on the reuse or repurposing after safety and performance re-certification of those batteries, Extending the life of these batteries, where possible, is essential to the efficiency and circularity of the product. It is important to note we do not sell these
supposed to be reused, and for the purpose they are intended to be used for. When these batteries do reach their end-of-life they are taken back by Reclite at no extra charge. At this point when the batteries coming n cannot be reused, they enter the ‘destructive recycling process.’ This is, as Schröder explains, “where the lithium-ion batteries are separated from their casings, and the battery is broken down all the way to the cell level. This is then separated locally through ‘home-grown South Africa technology’ into a high-quality black mass.” Depending on the cell type the black mass produced has an aluminium and copper content of less than half a percent which is then sent overseas for further processing. Schröder adds, “The good news is that Reclite is currently working on bringing this overseas processing to South African shores.”
Barriers in South Africa
Reclite’s service level agreements cover the reuse of batteries, and the reused batteries are chipped and tracked with geo-location to ensure they are used where they are
While Reclite does most of the processing in South Africa and is currently working to bring even more processes to South Africa there are some hurdles to the battery recycling capabilities in South Africa. “The reality is that we do not have enough batteries, South Africa uses these batteries but right now we do not have enough coming to us to ensure the process is positive. The market for the older, more valuable batteries is shrinking, and the only way to remain positive is the valorising of lithium,” says Schröder, “We processed over 200 tonnes of batteries last year and that even is not enough to sustain the industrial process to validate a more involved supply chain, reverse supply chain, here in South Africa.” A major reason for this is the storage of lithium-ion batteries, Schröder says that with lead batteries there was an incentive for industry to remove them while there is none for lithium-ion batteries, or in some cases a cost. While Reclite and the extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws start to minimise the cost, this still serves as a large hurdle, especially considering that lithium-ion batteries pose a fire hazard. “While I am not in favour of shouting ‘fire’ because I think the discussion should be more nuanced the reality is that long-term storage can result in unstable cells, and lead to serious fire risks, especially in industry,” says Schröder. Something that everyone can start doing, from larger industries to household users, is to ensure that the company that produces the battery is EPR compliant. Schröder concludes, “Relying on PROs and EPR, while pushing South African capabilities is one of the ways to ensure a robust recycling sector that is as economically beneficial as it is environmentally.”
Household batteries account for a significant portion of Reclite’s recycling efforts, you can find their take back bins in Woolworths
Where does the responsibility lie? E-WASTE:
The general perception of waste has changed over the past few years. With reuse preferred before recycling, people are becoming more responsible with their waste. As society becomes increasingly tech-driven, the rise in e-waste presents a growing challenge that demands urgent attention.
By Duncan Nortier
Growing e-waste volumes have led South Africa to introduce new legislation, the Waste Act was updated in November 2024 to clarify and streamline the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR), which places the responsibility of an identified product’s life cycle on the obligated company defined in the regulations as a producer, rather than the consumer. Patricia Schröder, CEO of Circular Energy, a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), spoke with Resource about e-waste and these new laws.
What is the difference between e-waste and ‘regular’ waste? How are they treated differently?
Patricia: The main difference between e-waste and regular waste is composition, environmental impact, and the challenge of managing e-waste properly. E-waste, which is classified as hazardous waste in the South African waste classification regulations, includes discarded electronics containing hazardous and toxic materials like heavy metals, which cannot be treated the same way as regular waste – which is non-hazardous.
E-waste poses a greater risk to the environment due to the potential for toxic materials that can leach into the soil and water. It is because of this that e-waste must be handled differently than regular waste by people who know how to manage it. E-waste and battery waste is restricted to landfill and requires specialised recycling processes to ensure the toxic components are recovered safely and in accordance with best environmental practices.
Could you explain some of the damage caused by throwing away something innocuous, such as a battery?
While ‘e-waste’ is a relatively new term, society has been dealing with it for a long time. Throwing batteries away with regular waste can have a significant impact on the environment. Batteries that end up in landfills can leak toxic materials like lead, cadmium, or lithium. These leaching materials can cause long-term soil degradation and severe water pollution, affecting plants, animals, and drinking water supplies. Batteries that end up in a landfill that uses incineration will release harmful chemicals into the air if no flue gas scrubbing is present, once they are incinerated. This impacts air quality and can be linked to respiratory problems in nearby communities. Additionally, certain battery chemistries are also a fire hazard in landfills.
When battery waste is not disposed of properly, it results inlost resources. Batteries can contain valuable materials that can be recovered, such as metals and electrolytes. Disposing of them as regular waste means
Patricia Schröder, CEO of Circular Energy If recycled properly e-waste becomes a valuable resource
manufacturers to design products that are easier to recycle and to minimise hazardous or toxic materials in their products. The main goals of EPR laws are to increase the lifespan of products, reduce the amount of e-waste, increase recycling rates, and protect the environment.
losing these resources and increasing the demand for new raw materials.
What is the scale of the e-waste problem in South Africa?
• It is significant and growing, with serious implications for the environment and public health. Volume: As of August 2021, the South African government restricted e-waste and batteries from landfills, encouraging citizens to recycle instead. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment estimates that South Africa generates an annual average of 360 000 tonnes of e-waste. This accounts for 5% to 8% of the country’s municipal solid waste and is growing three times faster than any other waste stream.
• The Western Cape alone produced between 43 290 and 68 501 tonnes of e-waste in 2020.
• Collection rates: Only a small percentage of e-waste (around 10 to 15%) is properly collected and recycled, leading to a large amount of waste ending up in landfills or being informally disposed of.
• Informal sector: A significant portion of e-waste is handled by the informal sector, where workers often lack the necessary skills to manage the waste properly and protective gear, resulting in exposure to hazardous and toxic materials, increasing health risks.
What is the impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws?
EPR laws shift the responsibility for managing e-waste from consumers and municipal integration to manufacturers, brand owners and importers, defined as producers in the regulations. This means that companies are now required to take back their products at the end of their lifecycle, ensuring they are recycled or disposed of responsibly. This encourages
These laws encourage better product design with longer lifespans to reduce the volume of e-waste generated.
The e-waste that is generated is recycled at a higher rate and valuable materials are recovered to aid the circular economy.
This process minimises the environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal of hazardous and toxic materials in e-waste.
EPR is transforming the waste sector by creating new business models, as companies develop new recycling and take-back programmes. These regulations also standardise practices in the sector to ensure that there is a uniform approach across different industries and regions.
Overall, EPR laws aim to create a more sustainable system for managing e-waste, benefiting the environment, and encouraging responsible production and consumption.
What is a PRO, what do they do?
The biggest change these EPR laws have is that they encourage collaboration between various stakeholders such as inter alia importers, manufacturers, recyclers, and governments. Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) facilitate the cooperation between these entities and foster a more integrated approach to waste management.
A PRO is a not-for-profit entity that assists producers to comply with the EPR regulatory requirements and targets through various key stakeholders within the country.
As a PRO, Circular Energy appoints its accredited recyclers and transporters for the collection and recycling of identified products to meet the set annual targets, in addition to other regulatory requirements such as inter alia compliance management, informal sector and municipal integration, awareness and education campaigns, data management, DFFE reporting, and strategic partnerships.
Collection, or access to the waste is the backbone of the recycling process, and as a PRO, we manage the collection, transport, recovery, recycling, and proper disposal of e-waste on behalf of producers. We also set up drop-off points and collection events to make it easier for consumers to recycle their electrical equipment and electronic devices. Producers have a responsibility to ensure that the products they import or locally manufacture to sell, and the packaging they use are recycled and diverted from landfills as much as possible. We help them navigate the laws and compliance to ensure they are meeting the legal requirements of the EPR regulations as well as getting the benefits of their efforts. PROs like Circular Energy have a duty to educate the public and we engage in public education campaigns to inform consumers about proper e-waste disposal methods and the importance of recycling. E-waste is logistically complex, and we track and report on data that is related to e-waste management, helping producers understand their impact and facilitating compliance with regulatory requirements. Our role as a PRO also means that we collaborate with local governments, recycling facilities, and
One of the ultimate goals of the EPR regulations is to divert waste from landfills as much as possible, an environmental win as e-waste can become leachate which pollutes water and soil
other stakeholders to develop effective waste management strategies.
How can individuals, businesses, and communities get involved and make a difference?
Individuals, businesses, and communities can all play a significant role in promoting e-waste recycling and responsible disposal.
Individuals:
• Proper disposal: Always recycle electrical equipment and electronic devices through designated e-waste collection points rather than throwing them in the trash.
• Educate yourself and others: Learn about the impacts of e-waste and share this information with friends and family to raise awareness.
• Participate in events: Attend local e-waste
One of the ultimate goals of the EPR regulations is to divert waste from landfills as much as possible, an environmental win as e-waste can become leachate which pollutes water and soil.
collection drives or workshops to contribute to recycling efforts.
• Choose sustainable products: Opt for electronics from companies that prioritise sustainability and offer take-back programs.
Businesses:
• Implement e-waste policies: Establish clear policies for the proper disposal and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment within the organisation.
• Partner with PROs to facilitate e-waste collection and recycling.
• Educate employees: Provide training on responsible e-waste disposal and encourage staff to participate in recycling initiatives.
• Offer take-back programmes: Create programmes for customers to return old electrical and electronic equipment when purchasing new products.
Communities:
• Organise collection events: Local groups can host e-waste collection days to encourage residents to recycle their old electrical and electronic equipment.
• Raise awareness: Use community newsletters, social media, and local events
Improper disposal of e-waste can lead to air pollution, affecting nearby communities
to inform residents about the importance of e-waste recycling.
• Support local initiatives: Get involved with or support local organisations working on e-waste management and sustainability.
• Advocate for policies: Engage with local governments to promote policies that support e-waste recycling and responsible disposal. Waste management has always been collaborative, and e-waste is no different. Involving yourself as an individual, business, or community raises awareness and aids in the control of the growing e-waste problem.
Waste management is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as the needs and challenges vary between middle-class suburbanites and township residents. The City of Cape Town (CoCT), home to a diverse population spanning multiple income levels, as well as a hub for tourists and digital nomads, experiences these differences firsthand. By Duncan Nortier
Rethinking waste: How Cape Town is innovating for a cleaner, greener future
Agrowing concern in South Africa is the lack of service delivery and littering in poorer areas. This issue jeopardises the health and safety of South Africans, with the greatest impact on the country’s most vulnerable populations. It is difficult to care about proper disposal of waste when a person is surrounded by litter, and a lack of service to remove that litter.
This is why CoCT has the Green Litter Bin Waste Education and Awareness Project for informal settlements. It is a project that aims to combat the effects of and create awareness around illegal dumping.
The Green Litter Bin Waste Education and Awareness Project
According to CoCT, “this project aims to reduce blockages in ablution facilities and littering in informal settlements by placing green bins outside of public toilets and standpipes. The project is part of a wider campaign that creates awareness about the negative effects of illegal dumping and disposal of inappropriate objects into the sewerage system.”
Because informal settlements often spring up without official planning, they pose a risk of being “outside the system.”
To combat this, the city includes them in the system. The Solid Waste Management Department of CoCT says, “In every informal settlement within CoCT’s borders, we have placed bins along the main thoroughfares and in central business districts.” To date the city has placed over 25 000 bins, each bin is serviced weekly by the Urban Waste Management Directorate’s Waste Services – cleansing department.
While CoCT understands that simply placing bins does not prevent illegal dumping, they note that “Some communities have really made proper use of the bins, and the positive impact is felt within those communities.”
The City of Cape Town Municipality is decidedly bullish on recycling and clean-up initiatives
A key component of this project is community engagement. CoCt states, “There are dayto-day waste awareness activities, through collaborative interventions such as community clean-ups, or at events such as concerts, sports games or school assembly presentations.”
Recycling in Cape Town
Cape Town positions itself as a city that cares about green initiatives and the growing circular economy. One of the ways that the city does this is to focus on recycling as the pillar for’ healthy’ waste management. As South Africa tries to divert waste to landfills, recycling and adding value to waste streams is an especially useful tool to combat ‘over waste.’
Adding the CoCT’s waste services, the city also has ad hoc removal of garden refuse and the collection of recycling in specified areas. In areas where the city does not offer recycling collection, there are 26 drop-off facilities that provide the opportunity to recycle and offload any non-hazardous waste that cannot be managed via the normal scheduled refuse removal service. CoCT states “Drop-off sites accept garden refuse, recycling, builders’ rubble, garage waste, white waste (appliances), e-waste, and oil (not all facilities).” They also impose a 1.5-tonne, three-times-a-day limit on vehicles as anything more than this is considered industrial.
To ensure that the waste disposed of is non-hazardous and ensure compliance, each facility “records the waste on an access control register, and all waste is screened at the access control point. Recycling SMMEs responsible for sorting and resale of recovered material will also do further separation if needed.”
Organic waste is accepted at all sites, and 15 of the 16 sites are “earmarked” for “chipping
garden greens.” CoCT further says, “The City appoints a service provider for the chipping of garden waste and offsite beneficiation of the mulch generated through the chipping activities. Mulch can be used for composting, in the agriculture sector, as well as in nurseries.”
The city details their recycling activities as follows, “The City appoints SMMEs for the recovery and sorting of recyclables at all dropoff sites. The contractors appointed are given access to the separated recyclables entering the site and can also recover any recyclables that may be present in other waste streams such as garage waste or e-waste. Recyclables are sorted into various categories (e.g., paper/ wood/cardboard and subcategories thereof), and the stored in bale bags or baled for sale to the secondary market.”
While the city expands their recycling efforts, they make provisions for private recycling collectors who must register with the city. To become a recognised private recycling collector an organisation must draft an Integrated Waste Management (IWM) plan for approval by the City. To legally operate in Cape Town, the following must be included in their IWM:
• An assessment of the quantity and type of waste disposed.
• a description of the waste services required to store, collect, transport, and dispose of waste.
• a plan to separate recyclable and non-recyclable material at the point of source;
“Think
• a waste minimisation plan.
• a pollution prevention plan.
• details of the potential environmental impact of the waste.
• the type or characteristics of environmentally sensitive waste.
• the targets for recovery of waste (minimisation, reuse, recycling).
• Plans to handle emergencies.
Each plan is then reviewed by the city, and if approved, “Accredited service providers and waste generators are also required to report to the city on processed waste. This data then informs the City’s broader waste strategy.”
Welgelegen drop off facility
broader waste strategy CoCT introduced the Think Twice programme. According to the city, “This programme is a free door-to-door recycling collection programme for homes and businesses in selected areas around Cape Town. The city appoints contractors to carry out this service. Instead of disposing of all household waste together in one black bag, CoCT encourages people to think twice and use two bags. Separating the recyclable material from the non-recyclable waste.”
The trial project started in the Marina de Gama area, using lessons learned from this trial, the city decided to further expand the separate collection of recyclables to areas where appointed private sector waste management companies were already
collecting general waste on behalf of the city. The waste services of CoCT state, “Two factors informing this decision were the agility of the private sector to add additional services to their offering, as well as their less restricted access to the recycling commodity markets, to which the recyclables needed to be sold.”
Currently, the City offers a separate doorto-door recycling collection service, known as “Think Twice” to over 200 000 Cape Town “households” (or service points, including blocks of flats), and has progressively been increasing this reach for approximately 20 years, as additional sorting facilities and budget becomes available and as confidence in the service continues to grow.
This project is more successful in the middle to higher-income areas than lowerincome areas, pointing the city to look at alternative models to accommodate this. CoCT goes to say, “With the commissioning of the strategically placed Kraaifontein Materials Recovery Facility in 2011, the service was significantly expanded in the areas surrounding this facility, to ensure efficient collection logistics.”
This project can be seen on the City of Cape Town map viewer by toggling the layers.
Expanding efforts
As previously mentioned, the Think Twice programme did not do well in lower-income
The City of Cape Town says it will continue to expand, fine-tune, and implement solutions that work for all its residents
Recycling Day is one of the City’s initiatives that focuses on promoting recycling among the youth
City cleanup efforts help combat the effects of illegal dumping, coupled with CoCT’s Green Bin project and the Swop Shop there is optimism about keeping high litter clean
areas, leading the city to an alternative solution: Swop Shop. CoCT explains, “the mobile Swop Shop Service, where residents can swap their clean recyclables for groceries and related items in the Swop Shop Trailer. This business model was trialed between 2020 and 2023 and found to be very suitable for lower-income communities. As such, an expanded trial is planned for 2025 and 2026, to fine-tune the logistics and service delivery mechanism, to inform further rollout. The 2025-26 Swop Shop Trailer will service a minimum of 5 lower-income communities in Cape Town.”
Alongside this programme, the 2020 revision of the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations heralded an opportunity for municipalities to leverage resources provided by the Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), representing producers who are mandated to ensure that recyclables flow into the economy, rather than landfills. The city is collaborating with the PROs to co-design appropriate business models to make this happen.
The city says, “The city is aware of a doorto-door recycling collection service being trialed in two suburbs in Cape Town, funded by the PROs and implemented by a Non-Profit Company known as The Recyclers Association (TRA) since October 2024. Although the City is not directly involved in the implementation of this trial, the Urban Waste Management Department provides guidance and insight to the project team with the joint aim of accelerating the separation of recyclables at source in a diverse manner.”
Industry
The CoCT tries to leverage the private sector to aid in its waste plans, while there is a considerable effort focused on communities and households. The city also started the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP). Symbiosis is the practice of using one industry’s waste as the raw material for another, this practice is key to the emerging circular economy of South Africa.
This project is facilitated by GreenCape, a non-profit organisation that drives the widespread adoption of economically viable green economy solutions from South Africa. GreenCape markets the service among industry and business, GreenCape then provides a free-of-charge consultation service (funded by the City of Cape Town), as well as constructive collaboration sessions. These ‘synergy sessions’ aim to understand what resources are underused for possible exchange with other interested partners and to facilitate connections between parties who wish to exchange resources.
To date, WISP has facilitated over 220 synergies resulting in:
• Over 135 000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill.
• The saving of greenhouse gas emissions is equivalent to 117 840 households.
• The generation of R150 million in additional revenue, cost savings, and investment.
• The creation of 398 jobs.
The City of Cape Town says it will continue to expand, fine-tune, and implement solutions that work for all its residents.
Being situated along the coast, plastic recycling is an important task for Cape Town
GROWING THE WASTE SECTOR AND CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP
The waste sector plays a crucial role in the circular economy and environmental protection the skills gap within the sector must be addressed to progress South Africa’s economy and environmental goals
The waste sector is vital to South Africa’s economy and environment but faces growth challenges due to skills shortages. To address this, the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) launched the Waste Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap to boost student graduation and develop essential skills. By Duncan Nortier
The Waste RDI Roadmap is aimed at supporting the transformation of the waste sector through the generation of scientific evidence. The CSIR was tasked with implementing the roadmap on behalf of the government. Prof Linda Godfrey, a principal researcher at the CSIR and manager of Circular Innovation South Africa says, “South Africa’s waste sector needs active skills development if the country is to achieve its policy objectives of moving waste away from landfill, and in so doing address key environmental challenges while unlocking new social and economic opportunities.”
The Waste RDI Roadmap sets out how the sector can support job creation against the backdrop of high unemployment. It identifies three interventions to address the skills gap in the sector:
• Human capital development (HCD)
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Innovation in the sector
The HCD programme
The HCD component of the Roadmap seeks to build a skilled workforce in both the public and private sectors, driving the transformation of South Africa’s waste industry.
The programme was funded by the DSTI and housed within the CSIR; and aimed to strengthen sector capability through the investment in postgraduate students. This was achieved by means of the:
• Development of two new postgraduate degrees that offer specialised study in solid waste management
• Direct scholarships for post-graduate students
• Partial or full funding for post-graduate students supported under Waste RDI Roadmap grant projects
• Funding under the two Waste Roadmap SARChI Chairs, and lastly
• Internship placements managed by the HSRC. After the programme had concluded, the CSIR appointed the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to conduct a track-and-trace study that would evaluate the impact of the programme. Prof Godfrey says, “We had clear goals for the programme, so it was crucial to assess its impact afterward. We evaluated our success, identified what worked, and noted
Prof Linda Godfrey, a principal researcher at the CSIR’s integrated waste management division
areas for improvement as we integrated these insights into the new Circular Economy Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy.”
The HSRC’s track and trace study
The HSRC track and trace study entailed conducting a survey with beneficiaries in order to generate information which would deepen our understanding of the following:
• Gather data about the effectiveness and impacts of the programme
• Provide information about the activities, outcomes, and employment of beneficiaries
• Determine the nature of employment of beneficiaries
• Determine the extent to which beneficiaries were retained in the Waste Sector
• Pilot a survey of the beneficiaries’ employers’ perceptions of the value of the programme
• Generate evidence of key achievements and challenges regarding programme delivery mechanisms and how these can be improved for sustainability in the future.
Shirin Yousuff Motala, Director Research Impact at the HSRC in the Equitable Education and Economies division, says “Every project
that aims to grow skills and employment is one worth pursuing, our task here is not to say, ‘this was a good or bad’ but to critically analyse how the project performed and why.”
Based on the database provided by the CSIR, we initially identified 206 HCD beneficiaries. However, this number database was further revised down to 144 beneficiaries after excluding 62 individuals who were either not contactable or reported that they had not completed their qualifications, which was a key inclusion criterion.
A total of 80 beneficiaries were interviewed representing 56% realised sample size.
The demographic profile of the sample reflected that the majority of respondents were female (59%), which was an explicit objective of the programme. Additionally, 3% of the respondents were people with disabilities. Racial profile of the beneficiaries reflects a majority of Blacks (63%) followed by Asians and White at 14% each and Coloured 9%.
In terms of nationality, the majority were South African (81%), while 13% came from other African countries and the remaining 6% from elsewhere globally. Here again, the recruitment of beneficiaries from the African continent, responds to a key objective of the HCD programme of contributing to building waste sector skills and capabilities on the continent.
The sciences still reflect South Africa’s broader gender bias
Of those beneficiaries interviewed, the sample included among others 49 with master’s qualifications, 13 with PhD qualifications, nine with honours qualifications, three with bachelor’s qualification and three undertaking a post-doctoral placement.
The economic profile of the respondents’ households background revealed that:
• 49% came from households earning more than R20 500 per month with a further
• 11% from household earning between R10 500 and R20 000 a month
• 4% in a household earning between R7 500 and R9 500 a month
• 4% in a household earning between R3 000 and R6 500 a month
• 3% of the respondents came from households earning less than R1 000 per month
• 28% did not respond to this question, refused to answer, or were unsure about their response.
According to Dr Mncwango, Chief Research Specialist at the HSRC, “The sample showed that economic barriers, while not the only barrier, were definitive barriers to access.”
Destinations
The track and trace study found that students had a strong tendency to stay in their province of origin, other students
Investing in skills within the waste sector is investing in the future of South Africa
migrated to Gauteng or the Western Cape, while seven left the country.
Both Prof Godfrey and Motala agree that the skillsets remaining in their home provinces is a positive outcome, Prof Godfrey comments, “Developing skills outside of the economic hubs is extremely important if we are to tackle environmental challenges across the country.”
Beyond the physical destinations of the students, this study concentrates on the labour markets that the students moved into post-programme.
The HRSC reports that according to their sample, 73% of graduates successfully transitioned into employment, with 60% reporting gaining full-time employment. 28% of the programme’s graduates reported finding work within one month of completing the programme while 18% report not finding any employment after two years. The study shows that most of those who gained employment remained employed for more than a year.
Of the 73% who found employment, either full or part-time, 34% found work within the waste sector, and 36% found work outside of the waste sector.
The study showed that there is a higher chance of employment within larger organisations and higher education, where a fifth found employment at the institution they completed their qualification with. Of the
34% working in the waste sector, 20% report working in municipal waste, 16% in organic and plastic waste, 44% in highly specialised roles, and 4% in e-waste.
Of the graduates working in the waste sector, 28% said it would be very unlikely for them to move away from the sector, while 12% said they were likely or very likely to move away from waste citing “lack of growth opportunities.”
Benefits and barriers
“Part of the reason for the study is to see how the waste sector received the graduates, and what we need to consider going forward if we are to add meaningful skills to the sector,” says Prof Godfrey. The track-and-trace study allows for a balanced look into the programme, and the benefits that it had.
Overwhelmingly 93% of respondents reported that they would recommend the programme to others, noting that the programme had benefits outside of the financial aspects, including advanced mentoring and networking opportunities.
More than two-thirds of the beneficiaries said that the programme had helped them find employment, with one graduate stating that they were hired off the strength of the programme alone.
Dr Mncwango noted that “Employer recognition was a major factor that we
While many graduates of the HCD programme stay within cities like Johannesburg, many live away from city centres spreading their new knowledge to areas that need it most
considered within the study, as employment is the ultimate goal of the programme.”
The study surveyed employers who hired graduates from the programme, and the following stood out:
• Waste sector employers all reported concerns about insufficient labour supply in the sector.
• Several employers said they had not heard of the programme until they hired a graduate.
• Waste sector employers feel that there is significant skill migration in the sector.
• Public entities say that their needs are socially mandated but cannot compete with the private sector in terms of salary, resulting in skills loss for key waste sector projects within the municipal sector.
• Most employers report a need for specific courses that tackle specialised e-waste management activities rather than broad training.
• Employers’ perception was that the waste sector is a neglected sector in terms of funding and training.
Motala says, “Getting info from the employers is just as valuable as getting data from the graduates. From what we gathered there is a clear need for this programme, but we found issues in terms of public versus private sector experiences of the programme including levels of general awareness.”
Nurturing innovation in the waste sector by drawing new minds to the industry will produce innovation and help move towards South Africa’s circular economy plans
The employers all reported positive experiences with the graduates, noting proficiency, commitment, and reliability among the graduates. Some employers reported that the programme helped them locate specifically skilled graduates, while others reported graduates helped them pass their audits.
The study also helped identify systemic barriers, Prof Godfrey explains, “The waste sector, like any other, comes with its own problems. What the study can do is identify these problems and help us move forward with more context and better plans to help overcome these barriers.”
Women have a longer time finding employment in the waste sector, municipalities specifically only employed male graduates. Dr Mncwango says, “This reflects the broader gender inequality in South Africa, which necessitates targeted interventions.” “The waste sector has traditionally been a very male-dominated sector,” adds Godfrey, “but we are seeing this change as more women resonate with the green and circular economy opportunities that the sector can provide.”
Other notable barriers include:
• Gatekeeping in the waste sector: Many graduates report that the waste sector
Employers of the HCD graduates were happy with the HCD graduates, suggesting that the CSIR do more to promote their human capital interests
relies on relationships rather than straight qualifications.
• Lack of or poor-quality mentorship: While the programme promoted mentorship, some
graduates noted that the mentors were not obligated to share their expertise, and it was treated as a formality.
• Limited practical experience provided by employers: Employers expect practical skills on top of higher-level qualifications, which some graduates felt were unrealistic.
• Limited knowledge about employers in the waste sector: Some graduates felt that their knowledge of potential employers was limited outside of municipal or research roles.
• Financial constraints by employers: Employers, especially in the public sector, did not provide adequate salary versus qualification and skill expectations.
• Personal challenges leading to withdrawal from the programme: seven students withdrew from the programme citing difficulties with their supervisor, lack of support, and personal challenges.
Results
The results of the track-and-trace programme showed that the programme produced skilled graduates with 73% transitioning into the labour market in full-time, part-time or self-employment within one to eight months after graduation. The employees were reported to be held in high regard by their employers as they indicated that the employees had brought new skills and capacities into their companies. One company illustrated that as a result of the beneficiary’s employment, the company had enhanced its performance on audits conducted. The retention of skills in the waste sector was 34% of all those employed full-time and given the complexity of the sector this reflects an important contribution to upskilling in the waste sector. Municipalities
Nuclear energy in South Africa:
the facts
South Africa’s nuclear history is rich and as the country ramps up its ‘just energy transition’, nuclear looks like a solid option when moving away from coal-generated power.
Last year South Africa shut down Koeberg unit 2 for maintenance, Koeberg is a central figure in South Africa’s nuclear history and future. The power station proves that nuclear power is a viable solution to coal, its
two units have reliably provided power to the Western Cape since 1984.
During February 2025 South Africa opened its nuclear programme to bids from Russia and Iran, a controversial move amidst tensions with the United States. A report by BizNews
A BRIEF HISTORY:
says that nuclear power still looks unlikely for South Africa due to time and cost constraints. Despite this, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) still argues that nuclear is the best move for large generation competing with coal.
1944 1959 1961 1984-1985
USA and UK requested forecasts from South Africa on its potential to supply mineable uranium. This led to the formation of the Uranium Committee in 1945, and, in 1948, the Atomic Energy Board (AEB) was formally established to oversee uranium production and trade.
The government approved the creation of a domestic nuclear industry and planning began the next year on building a research reactor, in cooperation with the US Atoms for Peace programme.
The Pelindaba site – South Africa’s main nuclear research centre – near Pretoria was established.
The
plant was built by Framatome and commissioned.
The Koeberg plant is owned and operated by ESKOM.
DID YOU KNOW?
South Africa is the only country to develop nuclear weapons and voluntarily give them up!
In 1993, President Frederik Willem de Klerk announced that six nuclear weapons and a seventh uncompleted one had been dismantled. In 1995, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was able to declare that it was satisfied all materials were accounted for and the weapons programme had been terminated and dismantled.
Koeberg
WHY ARE THE NUCLEAR REACTORS IN CAPE TOWN?
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
• Total Generation (2021): 244 TWh
●• Generation Mix:
⛏ Coal: 210 TWh (86%)
⛓ Nuclear: 12.4 TWh (5%)
��️ Wind: 8.4 TWh (3%)
��️ Hydro: 6.8 TWh (3%)
☀ Solar: 6.7 TWh (3%)
●• Total Consumption: 193 TWh
●• Per Capita Consumption: ~3300 kWh (2021)
●• Eskom’s Role:
○- Provides 95% of South Africa’s electricity
○- Supplies 40% of Africa’s total electricity
●●• Installed Capacity (2022): 54.7 GWe
- Coal-fired stations: 39.8 GWe
●●• Nuclear Capacity: 1840-1860 MWe since 1986
South Africa’s main coal reserves are concentrated in Mpumalanga in the northeast, while much of the load is on the coast near Cape Town and Durban. Moving either coal or electricity long distance is inefficient, so it was decided in the mid-1970s to build some 1800 MWe of nuclear capacity at Koeberg near Cape Town.
●●●• Proposed Nuclear Expansion: Two 1200 MWe units at Duynefontein or Thyspunt
URANIUM IN SOUTH AFRICA
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DECOMMISSIONING
• Regulatory Framework:
- 2008 National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Act: Established NRWDI (2014).
Feeding the concrete underground digester with animal droppings
How small-scale waste-to-energy biogas converters are saving the environment and giving life to rural communities
Massive energy projects are often focused in urban areas, this widens the energy gap experienced by those who live in rural areas, who can be left behind. This demands a look into smaller-scale projects that aid rural communities with their energy needs while also moving to a greener South Africa. By Duncan Nortie r
began looking into the use of small-scale waste–to–energy biogas converters that would bring energy and control to the people of rural Limpopo.
Rural areas and their needs
Prof David Tinarwo, an Associate Professor in the Department of
Prof David Tinarwo, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Venda and the leader of the Biogas Research team, says, “As a university we looked at our surrounding communities and we saw that they relied on wood fire for heating and cooking. This drove a demand for cutting down trees in an unsustainable manner, and the actual burning of the wood was inefficient.” This observation led to a multi-phase project starting in 2013 where the university under Prof Tinarwo’s team,
“There was a real need to work with rural communities, we did not want to impose our environment-driven needs onto them but rather meet the communities where they were and work with them to help them empower themselves,” says Prof Tinarwo, “we identified the key problems they faced and turned them into actionable items.” Their inquiry found that rural communities in South Africa have the following characteristics:
• They lack access to reliable energy sources.
• They have high levels of agricultural waste.
• They have a need for sustainable agricultural practices.
• The communities stressed the importance of rural economic empowerment.
Physics at the University of Venda and the leader of the Biogas Research team
This is against the backdrop of these statistics from Stats SA (2021)
• 31.6% use wood as an energy source in Limpopo
• 34.4% unemployment in Limpopo (2021).
• 38.2% of households in Limpopo are involved in some form of agricultural activity.
With this background, the University of Venda’s biogas team sought to tackle the following:
• Improve household income,
• Improve food security,
• Improve cooking/heating energy
• Improve access to clean water
• Mitigate and adapt to climate change effects
To achieve this, the project established “a spirit of knowledge sharing, and co-creation among stakeholders and communities.”
A unique problem brings a unique solution
The problem of rural communities producing a large amount of agricultural waste turned out to be the silver lining, as Prof Tinarwo puts it, “Their problem was also the solution. Their agricultural practices, which are largely subsistence, led them to sit with an untapped fuel. Manure from piggeries, livestock farming, and husbandry is easily converted into a useful fuel that is sustainable and cost-effective.”
Using biogas converters to create energy and fertiliser served both the energy and economic needs of the identified communities, and the University of Venda insisted that this project cannot be a ‘gift’ rather it must be brought to
life in tandem with the communities they intended to serve. Prof Tinarwo explains that phase one of this project was extensive community engagement, “we visited households, schools, and early childhood development centres where they had a need for energy- either to heat or cook or bothand a need to develop their farming efforts. We had to make it clear that this project was going to help, and possibly provide income or save money.”
A byproduct of the digester is bio slurry which acts as fertiliser for subsistence farming, giving communities a source of income or food source
Community engagement has been a unique driver in South Africa where involving communities in projects has resulted in higher project successes. Once the communities were behind Prof Tinarwo’s team, the next hurdle was funding- something he says “is always difficult at the beginning.” Their first round of funding came from the National Research Fund, which funded the practical demonstration of this technology as a partnership between the University of Venda and the University of Cape Town.
This phase of the project started with a single 6 m 3 biogas converter being installed at a creche that turned chicken droppings into gas for cooking and fertiliser for growing vegetables. “We needed a simple proof of concept, so we took the idea of a biogas converter and plugged it into the rural community. We started with a creche, this filled a direct need and as a pillar of the community it also served to show the
intern funded by the
demonstrating the clean flame from the biogas that this household can now rely on
benefits to the community.” This digester was a success, and shortly afterwards the Water Research Commission (WRC) gave additional funding for the project, where another converter was installed at a cooperative. This cooperative used cow dung- something readily available to them- to run boilers, which were used to clean chickens after slaughter, and other water heating needs.
“The success of these first two digesters really spurred us on, we applied for additional funding from the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism Department (LEDET) which saw another digester being installed at the University of Venda.”
Localising the solution
At this stage in the project, all the digesters were pre-fabricated and brought to Limpopo, which was costly and cut out of local labour and suppliers. “At the beginning of the project, we were concerned with demonstrating that they work, now that we have that proof, we had to confront the problems we had, which were that it was impractical and expensive to transport these converters to Limpopo. Since
An
EWSETA
economic empowerment was a cornerstone of this project, we knew we had to localise the labour, materials, and knowledge,” explains Prof Tinarwo.
What the team ended up doing was adopting a spherical design that is built underground using bricks and cement, this meant that the digesters can be made using local supplies and local labour.
“This localisation meant we had to ensure the necessary skills were available to the community. We compiled a course that would teach local youth to build, run, and maintain these digesters. We secured a further R300 000 funding from LEDET that would buy the materials for the digesters, and provide a stipend for the trainees.”
The first intake consisted of ten youths, nine male and one female. The training program is theoretical and practical and resulted in the construction of nine digesters across four sites. The training gave them the skills and real-world experience that guarantee them a
skill, and with the project’s goals, could lead to full-time employment.
The training consists of 13 modules, which go through the need that these biogas digesters serve, the theoretical building process, and end with a supervised and unsupervised build. Each build was then tested for water and air tightness, crucial to the digester’s functionality.
The snowball effect
The success of this training along with the waste - to - energy biogas converters in use led to a wave of interest and funding:
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): R2 000 000
Rural communities relying on wood for cooking and heating lead to unsustainable wood cutting practices, the switch to biogas is more sustainable and efficient for these communities
• South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI): R800 000
• Capricorn District: R1 400 000 UNIDO saw the potential in these digesters for use across Africa and was interested in upscaling. Prof Tinarwo says, “They wanted to upscale, but we urged them to see it from our perspective, having multiple smaller units made it easier to build, and maintain as well, it gave the user the power rather than a centrally managed bigger unit.” UNIDO saw fit to fund the project with $181 000 (roughly 2 million rand in 2014) which would give 50 youths in Limpopo training and a stipend as well as 20 digesters. At this time, SANEDI was interested in this
This project identifies the youth as key players in these communities. Pictured: school children feeding the digester, which will help their school
project servicing schools that need heating and gas for cooking, adding more funding. The Capricorn District, also in Limpopo, also added funding to serve their district too.
Reflecting on this Prof Tinarwo says, “With now close to R4 million in funding we trained 92 youth and built more than 30 digesters.”
For the future, assessing the now
Regarding the success of this ongoing project Prof Tinarwo says, “We needed to be honest with ourselves and the people we aim to empower. A massive problem in these rural communities is that someone will come in and say, “here is something for you” and then a year later it is not in use, and everyone is continuing as if it never happened. We were emphatic that we did not want this, we wanted a true impact for both the environment and for the economic stability of these communities. What we didn’t want is this project to conclude and then the biogas digesters stop being made, stop being maintained, and left to break.”
Changing attitudes is never easy, if communities are used to cooking with fire, or heating water with fire, it is very difficult to alter this practice. Prof Tinarwo’s team went on a second round of community engagement, ensuring that people knew the real benefits of this technology. They broke it down into three distinct benefits:
• They use an already available resource, manure and organic waste.
• It is far more efficient than woodfire
• The byproduct is economically and agriculturally valuable
“The idea was to perpetuate the idea of the circular economy while making it contextspecific, by explaining that they could use manure from cows, pigs or chickens which would undercut their expense on firewood or in some cases allow people to sell this organic waste to users was a big advantage in the uptake of these systems. We also made it clear that
they could use the by-product as fertiliser for themselves or to sell,” explains Prof Tinarwo.
With
a focus on empowering the community and the youth, this project helps the unemployed with skills and income
As part of assessing the ongoing impact and ensuring it will be a success in the long run, the EWSETA provided structure and support in the form of an internship to follow up with those who were trained, and those who are willing but not trained. The larger goal is to start an economic flow where the digesters provide not just the cooking and heating but enough fertiliser to either farm with or sell to farmers. The youths who went through the training process can also manage their own farms, and through various initiatives, this project encourages them to start animal husbandry to supply the fuel for their project, making it a truly circular initiative.
“Our calculations show that a site of one hectare can yield enough produce to pay for five interns on the site,” adds Prof Tinarwo.
In an effort to ensure the profitability of this project an SME called DoLab Green Technology Consulting has been brought in to help the
interns manage the financial aspect of the farming and waste - to - energy biogas converters. At the schools where biogas digesters have been installed, piggeries and crop farms are being started to produce the fuel and sell the produce. At the secondary schools, a subject called Agricultural Management has been added to provide graduating youth with the necessary skills to help with the digesters on-site.
The science behind the digesters
Behind the immense success of this project is a simple scientific process. Prof Tinarwo explains, “This technology is not new, but the way it is being used is.”
Water is added to the organic waste, and because of the digester’s air and water-tight nature, it causes a breakdown of the input in a process called “hydrolysis”. From here the compounds are further broken down through acidogenesis. At this point, a process called acetogenesis occurs, where anaerobic bacteria produce acetic acid or acetyl-CoA by reducing carbon dioxide. Finally, Methanogenesis, the formation of methane coupled to energy conservation by microbes known as methanogens.
The energy efficiency of these digesters is such that each one avoids about 9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and 5.5 tonnes of wood per year. With nearly 40 installed, this has a tangible environmental impact in rural areas.
This is the process whereby the digesters work, breaking down complex inputs into a ready-to-use gas.
Prof Tinarwo concludes with, “This project is a practical application of circular energy and economy, where rural communities can empower themselves while also protecting the environment.”
The global reliance on fossil fuel sources has had a disastrous environmental impact, yet this technology underpins almost all modernisation and industrialisation.
By Duncan Nortier
Synthetic fuels burn much ‘cleaner’ than fossil fuels, making them more efficient
Power to liquid: Converting renewable energy into synthetic fuels
It cannot be overstated how much society relies on fossil fuels, which is why it is important to look for other fuel sources that are sustainable, less environmentally damaging, and just as useful. As South Africa moves forward with its ‘Just Energy Transition’ (JET), other fuel sources have become a critical issue. The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has laid out the path to a carbonneutral South Africa and part of that plan is the ‘flagship Coal to X’ programme funded by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI).
According to SANEDI, the ‘Coal-toX’ programme “aims to demonstrate
technology that can capture CO2 from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants and
Excellence in Catalysis, a specialised centre within UCT that focuses on chemical catalysis, particularly for the conversion of gas and liquid fuels, says “The background to this is the rising CO2 levels. CO2 levels are also globally dispersed which means that it is a whole planet process.”
One of the major focuses for South Africa is producing greener fuel sources with an emphasis on the green hydrogen economy. Green hydrogen is hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources rather than coal, and Prof Claeys says, “Green hydrogen is a large field, and in our case at the Centre for Catalysis, it is an enabling technology.”
Prof Michael Claeys, the director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, a specialised centre within UCT
The Fischer-Tropsch process in action at Sasol’s Secunda Facility
Power to liquid
“Power to liquids is using renewable energy and converting that to liquids, in our case hydrocarbons such as diesel for sustainable aviation fuel. says Prof Claeys, “we are combing green hydrogen and CO2 and running it through catalytic processes to make synthetic liquid fuel.”
The latest data shows that South Africa produces 397 million tonnes of CO2 a year, Prof Claeys adds, “South Africa produces a lot of CO2 through coal, but that gets difficult to use because it is in low concentrations and high in contaminants. There are other sources such as steel and cement production, which account for 8% of global CO2 production. On a smaller scale, there are biogas plants that emit CO2.” Smaller scale CO2 emitters are important to Prof Claeys and the Centre for Catalysis as they present higher concentrations that can be combined with hydrogen made on-site via electrolysis using renewable energy which is then converted to liquid fuel.
South Africa’s solar potential is especially promising in green hydrogen production. This puts South Africa’s ‘power to liquid’ in a position where the country can produce its own fuel as well as export to countries where renewable energy is scarcer. “There has been a lot of interest from Europe in South Africa’s green hydrogen and renewable potential,” adds Prof Claeys.
Catalytic processes
South Africa is well known for the Fisher-Tropsch process. Sasol has been using this process to great success on a large scale. This process starts with converting hydrogen and CO2 into water and carbon monoxide (CO), here more hydrogen is added converting CO into various hydrocarbons through a polymerisation reaction.
sol uses coal and natural gas for their carbon sources, Prof Claeys’s centre aims to use other sources on a smaller scale. “While there are largescale projects and other initiatives like direct air capture, the idea is to leave nothing untapped. Using biogas centres, cement and steel producers will have a significant impact.”
These synthetic fuels, specifically diesel, can be used in the maritime, agriculture, and aviation sectors. “While cars can be replaced with electric vehicles, flying is heavily dependent on hydrocarbon fuels because of its energy density, so the Fischer-Tropsch process will play an active role in the sustainable fuel market going forward.” Fischer-Tropsch reaction hydrocarbons might also require ‘hydro-cracking” where the long chains of hydrocarbons are ‘chopped’ into shorter chains to maximise the fuel yield.
Synthetic fuels
A fuel’s combustion is measured via a cetane number (C10), everyday diesel has a C10 number of 45-55 indicating impurities and inefficiency. In contrast, synthetic fuel produced in the FischerTropsch process is extremely high quality, with little to no impurities, and can have a C10 number of 100.
A result of the synthetic fuel’s purity is that it burns much cleaner too. “Natural diesel has aromatic compounds, impurities, that burn inefficiently and give off more harmful chemicals into the environment. Whereas synthetic fuels burn ‘cleaner,’ we are also producing fuels that are completely sulfur-free. Removing sulfur from
the process and producing fuels with no sulfur is important for the purity and efficiency of the fuel,” says Prof Claeys.
Synthetic fuels will be used more as South Africa, and the world moves away from coal and fossil fuels. Prof Claeys says that the growing demand and South Africa’s well-suited position make for a sustainable future where South Africa is a major player.
The catalysis centre
Prof Claeys has headed the DSI NRF, Center of Excellence for almost 20 years, showing a history of the process, and research in the country which it could leverage in the Just Energy Transition. The centre itself has graduated over 200 students, mostly Black and female and the centre aims not only to generate papers but patents. “The idea of generating patents was unusual for an academic centre at the time, but we took this quite seriously,” adds Prof Claeys.
The centre has a lab-based demonstration unit, as well as experience in producing pilot plants. Prof Claeys says, “There is also an intention to have a larger unit that can be put onto a container for further demonstration. Go to various CO2 sites and run a demonstration and eventually commercialise the endeavour.”
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, getting the low down on the Fischer-Tropsch process
Synthetic hydrocarbons are very promising in the aviation sector where the energy density is king
South Africa’s climate makes it the perfect place for renewable energy, and in turn green hydrogen, generating international interest
Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) is a newly introduced global framework that improves the safety of tailings facilities in the mining industry
Navigating the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management in South Africa
Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) is a newly introduced global framework that improves the safety of tailings facilities in the mining industry, covering the entire lifecycle of a tailings facility. This framework and its impact were a major topic at the 2025 Mining Indaba.
GISTM has been developed to provide assurance to mining stakeholders that the unique risks associated with tailings storage facilities are being systematically and effectively managed. According to the GISTM website, this framework will be pushed for adoption in
August 2025 when mining companies will have to comply with the new stringent safety framework. To help make sense of GISTM and its implications for South African mining SRK Consulting, a mining and exploration consultancy, is educating its clients on the various aspects of the framework, most recently at the 2025 Mining Indaba.
“Once considered almost entirely the domain of a specialised branch of civil engineering, the scope of managing tailings storage facilities (TSFs) is now considerably broader and more complex,” says John Stiff, a partner and principal engineering geologist at SRK Consulting, “the Global Industry Standard on Tailings
John Stiff, a partner and principal engineering geologist at SRK Consulting
Franciska Lake, consulting partner and principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting
Andries Fourie, principal technologist in disaster and risk management at SRK Consulting
Kavandren Moodley, principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting
Mining is a dangerous activity, but GITSM is a protective measure making it safer
Management (GISTM) has fundamentally shifted the responsibilities of tailings engineers.”
These shifts are important to understand how they make the mining sector safer.
GITSM is a tool for reducing risk to human life
“What was once an afterthought is now a departure point,” adds Stiff. “The integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns now requires engineers to collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including ESG professionals.” He goes on to say, “This holistic approach ensures that communities and ecosystems affected by mining activities are factored into operational planning from day one.”
Technical aspects
At the same time, the GISTM has also tightened up requirements on the technical aspects of TSF design and management. The geotechnical risks related to these structures are well known, based on the failures that have occurred, he noted.
“Over and above the focus on ESG, the GISTM also considers hydrological risks as well as the geo-environmental risks related to geochemistry and geohydrology,” he explained. “These now all need to be well integrated to build a full understanding of the broader risks associated with each TSF.”
Mitigating these risks to human life and the environment then becomes a key aspect of the TSF design and operational philosophy. One of the steepest learning curves for tailings engineers has been closing knowledge gaps, he argued. Among the challenges of investigating older TSFs, for instance, are incomplete historical records –which can hinder accurate risk assessments.
“Good record-keeping is vital, and the GISTM supports this with its requirement for a constantly updated knowledge base – ensuring that all relevant data is available to inform risk mitigation strategies,” he said.
Material changes
SRK Consulting partner and principal environmental scientist Franciska Lake
concurred, highlighting the GISTM’s emphasis on responding to any material change in the various elements of the TSF. Protecting the safety of employees, communities and other stakeholders relies on diligent monitoring of conditions in and around the facility.
“Changes occur constantly over the lifecycle of a TSF, and these need to be carefully monitored to assess their implications and to initiate change management where appropriate,” said Lake. “The standard specifically requires that knowledge about the social, environmental and local economic context of a TSF is updated at least every five years, or whenever there is a material change affecting the TSF or its social, environmental and local economic context, to facilitate ongoing safety and compliance.”
Technological innovation is also improving quantitative risk assessments, with a shift toward more robust, data-driven measures to cover all aspects of risk,” said Stiff. “This approach not only informs site-specific mitigation strategies but also drives the development of cost-effective remediation techniques.”
He also pointed to advanced techniques being used for site characterisation, including sonic drilling and advanced sampling methods to understand tailings composition and foundation conditions.
Extended monitoring
Kavandren Moodley, principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, added that
A material change could be influenced by factors such as population migration into areas surrounding a TSF, which would increase the population at risk and therefore the potential consequences of a failure. Conversely, proactive measures taken by mines to comply with GISTM requirements can mitigate risk and thereby enhance TSF safety, effectively lowering the consequence of failure by reducing the extent of the inundation zone.
Early warning
Tailing being placed on top of a HDPE liner by means of reverse tipping
Mine tailings are the waste materials left over after extracting valuable minerals from ore, typically a slurry of ground rock, water, and chemical reagents
The need to keep careful track of TSF-related changes on an ongoing basis highlights the importance of monitoring – where possible on a real-time or near-real-time basis. Stiff emphasised that early warning systems are particularly indispensable to TSF performance monitoring.
“Identifying likely failure modes – and monitoring for early signs of instability –ensures that the right preventative action can be taken, and communities can be protected,” he noted. “Instrumentation and technology play a vital role here; this facilitates the development of real-time dashboards, for instance, so that accountable executives and emergency response teams can act quickly.”
GITSM prioritises early warning systems based on monitoring TSF related incidents
GISTM has significantly enhanced the focus on monitoring efforts, extending beyond the boundaries of mining right areas to include surrounding regions, particularly within the inundation zone. This broader approach ensures a more comprehensive understanding of potential impacts and risks.
“With the GISTM’s focus on mine-affected communities, there is a need to extend the monitoring function into the TSF’s inundation zones,” said Moodley. “This monitoring should be as close to real-time as possible, as material changes can occur rapidly in this zone – with significant implications for risk management and safety.”
With the GISTM framework applying equally to planned and existing TSFs, new structures can mitigate risk through more robust and innovative designs. Stiff pointed out that mining companies raising finance for new developments will also be held to the standard’s higher levels of diligence by financial institutions and investors.
“New TSFs designed under these guidelines will be inherently more robust and resilient to failure,” he explained. “At the same time, resilience is built not just on clever design but on operational diligence. It is about consistently applying the GISTM across all aspects of operations.”
Applying ALARP
Legacy facilities, however, present a range of challenges in the journey to GISTM compliance.
“Older TSFs that were developed under outdated standards can be difficult to retrofit,” explained Stiff. “Nonetheless, mines are required to apply interventions that will bring risk levels ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP).”
For the many thousands of TSFs that exist globally, applying ALARP involves understanding what is practical for each site, which varies significantly based on location, design, and operational history. He highlighted that the judicious application of the ALARP principle will add considerable resilience to the safety levels of TSFs – to address growing risks such as climate change.
“Cost and practicality will always be considerations,” he said,” but with better data and a consistent approach, we can achieve acceptable levels of societal and environmental risk.”
The GISTM is therefore providing a valuable framework within which new and legacy sites can be more effectively future-proofed for generations to come.
Emergency planning
Another aspect of GITSM is that it prioritises emergency planning rather than a reactive
approach, while the technical aspects of this emergency planning framework are complex, it helps save lives.
According to Andries Fourie, principal technologist in disaster and risk management at SRK Consulting, there are complexities in the South African context that can create challenges in continuous compliance with GISTM. Principle 13 of the GISTM requires the owners or operators of a TSF to develop and apply a detailed Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), while Principle 14 deals with the long-term recovery process following a catastrophic TSF failure.
“With its sensitivity to ESG, the GISTM specifies that the EPRP must be community-focused and must be co-developed with project-affected people,” explained Fourie. “To ensure that the EPRP can be effectively implemented, mines must also engage with public sector agencies, first responders, local authorities and other relevant institutions – to assess the capability of those emergency services that will respond in the event of a disaster.”
Among those most affected by a TSF incident are people in the vicinity of the TSF, which may include informal settlements. He highlighted that, in the context of the country’s high unemployment rate, it is common that mining operations will
tend to attract many people seeking economic opportunities – even if there is insufficient formal housing in the area.
“Engagement with informal settlements can be complicated by the often fluid movement of people into and out of these areas,” he said. “Sound long-term engagement is often best conducted with the assistance from established leadership structures, and in many cases, these may not formally exist – or may change rapidly as people may not be permanently settled.”
Fourie noted that this varied from the situation in certain European countries where he has conducted similar GISTM work, where communities around mines tended to be more stable and well-established. Basic municipal services are also often not available in mine communities in South Africa, which creates a greater reliance on the mine and can strain relations.
“With these dynamics at play, it is sometimes difficult for mines to build constructive dialogue, understanding and trust with project-affected people,” he said, “and this is really the foundation for an effective EPRP process.”
Moodley concurs, highlighting that the engagement of project-affected people in emergency preparedness and risk assessment is essential for enhancing overall risk management.
“This approach deepens one’s understanding of actions to take in the event of a TSF failure, ultimately reducing the consequences of an emergency and improving safety outcomes,”
says Moodley. “Establishing strong relationships with project-affected people is fundamental when discussing TSFs, as this is a sensitive topic requiring a solid foundation of trust for open dialogue.”
He notes that, in SRK’s experience in the field, building this foundation is a gradual and ongoing process, which usually needs the guidance of specialist expertise and local experience. With time and consistent transparency, trust can be fostered, making disclosure a key element in strengthening the relationship between mines and project-affected people.
In terms of EPRP implementation, Fourie said mines often face an added challenge in their engagements with local authorities and government agencies, who frequently lack disaster response capacity. This makes these bodies reticent to commit to the EPRP in the way that the GISTM envisages.
“A meaningful EPRP really needs the mine to join hands with other relevant bodies who are mandated to provide disaster management services,” he said. “Where the capacity is not there, however, the responsibility upon mines can become even more onerous.”
In these cases, one of the constructive responses taken by a large South African mining company has been to start helping local authorities to rebuild their capacity. After identifying the deficiencies, the company embarked upon a dedicated programme to empower municipalities to render the expected services for GISTM compliance.
Moodley further highlighted the role of broader stakeholders, including environmental activists, who value greater engagement efforts. Building constructive relationships with these groups can enable mining companies to address social and environmental concerns more holistically and collaboratively, extending beyond direct projectaffected communities.
“This inclusiveness aligns with modern ESG expectations and strengthens a company’s social license to operate,” he said. “Disclosing information is one important aspect of a process that could transform activist scrutiny into productive dialogue. “
“It is important to understand that the GISTM is strong on the theme of engagement – and this implies building an EPRP collaboratively, rather than simply trying to impose a unilateral plan,” said Fourie. “For mines and practitioners working towards conformance with the GISTM, this means understanding the prevailing environment and working with project-affected people to make the plan relevant and effective.”
Priorities and precedents for a national AHP waste strategy
Absorbent Health Products (AHP) such as diapers or nappies are classified as general waste in South Africa, so long as they don’t come from healthcare facilities. This means AHP waste can be co-mingled with household waste for municipal collection where these services regularly operate. By Hugh Tyrell
However, problems arise in townships, informal settlements and rural areas where municipal services are inadequate or nonexistent. Here, disposable diapers by the thousands end up in open spaces and water courses, becoming a health risk to humans and nature.
Attention to public health
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s draft AHP Waste management strategy is due out for public comment early this year. Adequate attention needs to be given to lower-income living areas as a matter of public health, as well as social justice.
During the early rounds of the strategy’s stakeholder workshop process, large capitalintensive treatment technologies were among those proposed as solutions. For these plants to be economically viable, however, they would have to be placed where large volumes of AHP waste
material are readily available for collection. This would be in the major metros - where the middle and upper-income residents regularly receive refuse removal.
A possible EPR, with targets
There is a strong possibility that the DFFE draft strategy recommends an Extended Product Responsibility (EPR) scheme for AHP waste management. This is welcome as AHP manufacturers can then, through a joint product Responsibility Organisation (PRO), share in the cost of end-of-use recovery and treatment of the material.
An EPR scheme must set annual targets for the recovery of AHP waste. These targets should not only focus on amounts diverted from landfills but also on quantities recovered from underserved urban and rural areas with urgent human and environmental health issues.
Urban and rural research
Research pilots on the recovery of AHP waste in a number of lower-income sites have had successes.
In Langa, Cape Town, a pilot showed that some 6000 diapers can be collected monthly from educare centres and households, for transport and sanitary disposal to landfills.
Implemented by GreenEdge, the project lessened the likelihood of diapers being discarded
on open dump sites in the township and becoming a health risk. Useful data was also gathered for designing post-collection regenerative AHP waste treatment options, which are now being explored.
In the Joanna Road informal settlement near Durban, a pilot managed by Green Corridors placed special bins in convenient sites, making it easier for mothers to dispose of diapers, which are then taken to landfill by the municipality. Both these urban projects have been funded by KimberlyClark, manufacturers of the Huggies brand.
Useful precedents
In rural areas, the Kruger2Canyon Biosphere Reserve and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have done research to understand quantities, conditions and cultural aspects of disposable diaper waste practices in six villages in the Bushbuck Ridge region.
At Matatiele in rural Eastern Cape, a circular economic approach is underway where ‘smart’ modern cloth reusable nappies are being introduced to families. This project is managed by Environmental and Rural Solutions with WWF-SA and funded by Nedbank’s GreenTrust.
Much of the research work is being conducted in collaboration with UWC’s Professor Rinie Schenck, DSI/ NRF/ CSIR Chair in Waste and Society. The pilots and findings are setting practical precedents for AHP waste management under an EPR scheme in communities where it is needed most while creating employment as well.
Overall, the results provide valuable learnings for evidence-based decision-making and strategic policy implementation.
Household waste uncollected in townships becomes a public health risk
Cart collectors make disposal of diapers safe and easy in Langa
Closeable bins for used diapers in Durban’s Joanna Road informal settlement
Hugh Tyrell, founder and director of GreenEdge, a communications and behaviour change consultancy specializing in the circular economy
In a perfect world waste would never interact with the water supply. The reality is that South Africa’s service delivery, corruption and lack of environmental enforcement leads to massive quantities of waste in our rivers and dams.
A ‘waste island’ consisting of plastics and other waste that pollute South Africa’s rivers
THOW ILLEGAL DUMPING AFFECTS SOUTH AFRICA’S RIVERS
arryn Johnston, founder and CEO of Hennops River Revival and Deep Water Movement, has devoted her life to fixing South Africa’s rivers. She spends countless hours organising clean-ups and meetings to ensure the country’s precious rivers are cleaner than they currently are. She says, “Illegal dumping is ingrained in the way South Africa operates, it isn’t a problem that a cleanup will fix but requires ongoing effort to change the entire waste landscape of South Africa.”
At a recent Hennops Revival cleanup, Johnston, her team, and volunteers collected more than 3000 bags of waste from the river. She explains, “Whenever it rains the waste gets flushed, and you end up with these islands of waste that damage the riverbanks and infrastructure like bridges.” The waste that does not get stuck in the river gets pushed into South Africa’s water treatment plants through stormwater ingress, creating unnecessary blockages and increased strain on systems that are already strained.
Where does it
come from?
Unregistered informal settlements have little to no waste collection, receive no budget allocation for services, meaning that waste is discarded directly into the environment, stormwater channels and therefore into nearby water systems. Johnston adds, “It is a difficult situation because these marginalised communities are unaware of the damage caused to the environment, whilst simultaneously, left without options. Education is vital, engaging
with such communities teaching new skills and perspectives, to better comprehend that waste indeed has value, and how to utilize this to create micro-businesses and alleviate poverty. With such programmes, we conduct community mapping and work with authorities to achieve separation at source and to decide on central sites to dispose of their waste which minimises the problem.”
Johnston also points out that while it can be easy to blame these communities, but the waste in the river tells a different story, “When you see thousands of plastic cups, Styrofoam, and large Polystyrene blocks it is obvious that businesses and contractors have illegally
Tarryn Johnston, founder and CEO of Hennops River Revival and Deep Water Movement
dumped these. Communities get scapegoated, but there is a definite industrial presence that must be accounted for.”
Another issue in South African river systems is illegal sand mining, causing immeasurable damage downstream, altering the flow of the rivers, and inducing erosion of the riverbanks, destabilising trees, blocking bridges, and creating flood risks.
What can be done?
Johnston says, “The best defence against illegal activities should be our laws and policing system. This is however not the case, there seems to be little investigation, and even fewer repercussions for this crime.” When asked ‘what can be done’ she lists:
• Investing in cleanup action projects
• Adequate budgeting for basic service delivery
• Community engagement and long-term education campaigns
• Mandated recycling and separation at the source
• Tackling corruption and illegal business practices
• Finding actual solutions for waste as a resource
Barriers
There are significant hurdles to jump, especially when one wants to get to the root of the problem. She goes on to say that the most significant barrier is a culture of apathy coupled with systemic corruption. “No one cares, not just the communities who get the brunt of the blame, but the people in the suburbs, everyone has
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Whenever there is heavy rain the pollution from the rivers gets flushed onto riverbanks, destroying infrastructure, and creating erosion
an opinion, but I never see them volunteer. The “throw away” culture can only be changed through acknowledging that each one of us is “the source,” Then political-will, long-term education and creating the culture that we wish to see. In terms of crime and corruption, Johnston adds, “We already know that this is a problem. We can see the waste dumped into the rivers, or vast amounts of polystyrene that can only come from industry, and then nothing is done, we urgently need to tackle this from any angle we can.”
Waste as a resource
Another barrier is the question, “What to do with the waste?” Johnston says “We really do not want to take these thousands of bags of waste to landfills, but there is little else we can do. Most of my free time is spent thinking about how to turn this waste into a sustainable economic opportunity, which would ensure circularity, empower communities and generate revenue for the much-needed river cleanups, thereby guaranteeing stable jobs, and increased scale.”
Recently Johnston had a breakthrough saying, “In one of our experiments, we had some surprising results, we turned river waste into paint! And, this paint is waterproof, fireproof, and rustproof, and our next steps will be in the necessary laboratory testing and accreditations. We are actively exploring avenues and uses to find the right partners to take our ‘clean-up paint’ to where it can make a difference.”
Tarryn tested her paint on her old braai to great effect, she feels that this could be a game change
ORGANIC WASTE: AN UNDERUTILISED ECONOMIC RESOURCE
waste
be separated from other waste streams for it to be economically and environmentally beneficial
As South Africa moves towards a circular economy, waste streams are being treated as a resource. There has been a considerable push towards recycling and reuse, and organic waste is an often-overlooked stream that can lead to a positive environmental and economic impact.
By Duncan Nortier
Emile Fourie, National Committee Chairperson of The Organics Recycling Association of South Africa, (ORASA) says that “Organic waste is a broad category that encompasses any organic, rather than synthetic, residue. This is food waste, animal and plant waste, and wastewater coming from retail, logistics, agriculture, etc.”
Historically, this organic residue was the last stream to landfill to be recognised as having obvious benefits. Fourie elaborates, “organic waste benefits the biocycle, and having organic waste end up in landfills is environmentally damaging and economically inefficient.”
Treating organic waste differently
South Africa has what Fourie calls “an archaic landfill system” that, while being looked at and changed for the better today, has led to severe
environmental consequences. “The whole system is still very linear, and now there is a push towards circularity, but there wasn’t for a long time.”
Fourie identifies two key reasons for taking organic waste seriously:
• The environmental impact: Organic waste has a high leachate potential. Organic waste that ends up in South Africa’s landfills leads to leachate, and methane production, Fourie notes that methane is significantly worse than CO2 in terms of the “warming effect.”
• The social and economic impact: The waste sector contributes to stable job creation, and economic growth. Investment in the sector contributes to the circular economy as well as better environmental standards.
“Taking things and chucking them in a hole is a bad idea to begin with. Post World War II, the large increase in urbanisation, commercial agriculture, and industrialization meant that we were producing large quantities of macronutrients that were transported to the cities, and this cost meant that the waste from this ended up in a landfill rather than completing the biocycle,” says Fourie, “one of the first
Treated food waste can be used for compost and fertiliser, furthering the circularity of South Africa’s agricultural sector
things to be diverted from landfill was metal, as it has obvious economic benefits, and only recently did organic waste get recognised the same way.”
ORASA’s website says, “organic waste needs to be in a continuous cycle of growth and decay with all its nutrients being reused as nature intended.” This guiding philosophy is at the heart of the circular economy, and while it sounds “environment only,” Fourie attests that “there is
Emile Fourie, National Committee Chairperson of The Organics Recycling Association of South Africa
Organic
must
In
South Africa, 10 million tonnes of food go to waste every year. This accounts for a third of the 31 million tonnes that are annually produced in the country
also serious economic potential in the organic waste space.”
The economic potential of organic waste
Within the sector there is a “waste hierarchy” that tries to divert as much waste as possible from landfill. Waste producers, especially at a large scale, are encouraged to separate at the source. This ensures that waste streams are kept apart so that each can be treated in the manner that best fits them. For organics, “separation at source is key, and there are many companies that provide this service. From this point, it is transportation to a second materials recovery facility or screening facility, “says Fourie. “What has happened is that during this sector’s infancy there was an emphasis on competition but now as the sector matures, we are seeing an emphasis on collaboration to ensure that this value chain is sustainable and economically viable.” Fourie explains that this means waste is not only separated into different streams, but the streams themselves are further separated – “Different feedstocks for different off-takers.”
Organic waste has six different areas of reuse, recycling, and service:
• Composting: An aerobic process with the correct balance of nitrogen and carbon, which forms a stable nutrient compost - open or invessel composting.
• Anaerobic Digestion: An anaerobic process in a sealed vessel to create biogas for electricity production.
• Vermicomposting: The breakdown of organic material by earthworms into nutrient-rich vermicompost.
• Black soldier flies: Processing of organic material with the grubs of the black soldier fly into feed for fish and chickens.
• Bokashi composting: Odour control for food waste in an anaerobic environment.
• Organic waste transport: Efficient and safe transport of dry and wet organic material Each of these areas contributes to a growing economy and stable job creation, especially considering South Africa’s turn to a more circular economy.
Fourie says, “in this sector where collaboration is key, different feedstocks get taken by different tech partners, and there is full traceability and transparency in this process. For compositing the product must be registered before being sent to market.” In Fourie’s estimation composting is the best competitor to landfills for organic waste.
Some of the products that are put onto the market from organic waste recycling are:
• Biogas
• Compost or fertilizer
• Digestates
ORASA
Organic waste as a sector was once a disjointed and siloed space, and Fourie says, “ORASA was pivotal in getting the sector to work closer together, it represents the entire sector and is led by the people in the industry.” ORASA started with a ‘needs assessment’ for the industry and found that the best way to grow this sector was to ban organic waste from landfill. This would open the market up for growth and circularity. As an organisation led by the industry, Fourie explains that it “never pushes individual needs, it operates for the betterment of the whole sector.”
The benefits of having this organisation as a figurehead is that it has the chance to speak directly to the government with the needs of the entire industry. Recent instances of this are the conversation around fair landfill rates and banning organic waste on landfill.
Fourie concludes, “This sector is environmentally and economically beneficial, it has the potential to create a more circular South Africa and contribute to job growth and economic stability. The sector is also poised for growth as organic waste is set to be completely banned from landfills in 2027.”
There is a push in South Africa to divert waste from landfills, and while early diverting projects focused on high economic value items such as metal, organic waste does provide its own economic opportunities in the merging circular economy
Waste pickers are the backbone of the recycling sector
South Africa has no culture of recycling and limited separation at source projects, waste pickers play a vital yet misunderstood and underappreciated part in reducing waste to landfill in South Africa.
Waste pickers have become part of the South African landscape, physically they are visible either on the streets or on landfill sites, and economically they have become the sorting and collecting labour that moves our waste to better places than the bins. As a marginalised group they face obstacles: unsafe working conditions, hostility from homeowners, and even violence. To combat these conditions and elevate their work various organisations have been formed to protect this now vital profession, one of the biggest is the South African Waste Pickers Association
Musa Chamane, a senior waste campaigner for groundWork, an organisation that fights against climate injustice in South Africa,says “When we look at the recycling sector, it would be a very different place than it is today if we did not have waste pickers. It is a very
By Duncan Nortier
underappreciated job that has become integral for the health of our country.”
In 2007 groundWork tasked Musa with visiting landfill sites to see what the organisation could do to improve or help these sites, what Musa
saw was that at every single landfill, there were waste pickers sorting the waste and making a living from this act. Surveying the landfills in KwaZulu Natal led Musa to have direct talks with the waste pickers, on a particularly difficult day when waste pickers were chased off of a site by dogs and threatened with violence Musa asked them a simple question, “how can we help you, and what do you want?”. It was in this conversation that waste pickers said that they wanted to be treated as workers and have their rights protected. “While groundWork partners with SAWPA, it is important to note that SAWPA is for and by waste pickers. It is led and directed by waste pickers and their needs,” adds Musa.
Workers’ rights for environmental justice
Before SAWPA’s collective bargaining power waste pickers were exposed to seriously harsh working conditions and exploitation. Musa explains, “Because most waste pickers were working as individuals when they took their product to market, companies and buyers would offer them ridiculous fees for the waste because there was no standard rate and no collective bargaining. As waste pickers became represented by SAWPA their earnings went up and often stabilised. They still work in landfills,
Musa Chamane, senior Waste Campaigner for groundWork
Waste pickers searching for recyclables at the New England Landfill site in Pietermaritzburg. Credit: Tsepang Molefe
a dangerous place, but now they do not have to worry about hiding or being forced off the property with violence they have their own space to work, and this has led to much higher safety standards on site.”
Since 2007 and the initial push in KZN SAWPA formalised itself in 2009 as a national organisation and they have made great strides. Part of what SAWPA does is, in Musa’s words, “give them a common identity, they are marginalised and by simply bringing them together it has a positive effect on their own vision of themselves and provides organised power that they do not have as individuals.” SAWPA aims to register waste pickers, giving them adequate workers’ rights and once registered SAWPA can defend their interests.
One of the ways in which SAWPA aids waste pickers is by fighting for the proper enforcement of extended producer responsibility laws (EPR). These EPR laws were put in place to ensure the producers rather than consumers are responsible for the life cycle of their products which entails the collection, sorting, and recycling of their products after they are used. Products and packaging, like plastics, glass, and paper have EPR fees baked into the price of the product which is then used to guarantee the proper action of recycling. Since 2018, waste pickers have been integrated and included in this process through the Waste Picker Integration Guidelines which outline how municipalities, companies, producer responsibility organisations (PROs), and government can work with and include waste pickers in their recycling efforts and processes.
“It has not been smooth sailing though,” says Musa, “there have been multiple incidents of municipalities that ignore the role waste pickers play, which ultimately leads to more waste in
and money
of
explains that some municipalities have displaced waste pickers by abusing, displacing and even killing them. This failure to integrate waste pickers and the violence towards them is a direct barrier to the growing circular economy and livelihoods. While municipalities claim that waste pickers are not allowed in their landfills, Section 51 (I) of the Waste Act of 2008 does allow for the salvaging of waste, but in an organised and agreed manner between the municipality and waste pickers. “Some municipalities are just not willing to integrate, not even willing to talk, so the communication breakdown here has caused
SAWPA some grief, despite its efforts to organise waste pickers properly,” says Musa. Musa does clarify that it is not all municipalities, as some such as Metsimaholo in Free State, as well as Mpofana in KwaZulu Natal have embraced waste pickers and have created an enabling environment by supporting what they do.
From livelihood to environmental warriors
Many waste pickers start their journey as those looking to earn an income it is important for groundWork and SAWPA to stress the environmental aspect of their work to both the waste pickers themselves as well as the public. Once a year groundWork organises the Environmental Justice School hosted in KZN where different regions will send waste pickers to attend. This “school” educates waste pickers on their work, giving them both pride and understanding of the environment and how they impact it. Musa explains “The school focuses on the entire circular economy and environmental justice side of this work. Attendees then take this knowledge back with them and share it with their fellow waste pickers”
The circular economy is growing in South Africa, and it is important for the government, private sector, and waste pickers to work together. Musa concludes by saying, “Waste pickers are people, it seems odd to clarify, but when I get up to go to the office, they get up to go to the landfill, it is their office. They are using their earnings to send their children to school, and pay for rent, they are as much a part of the economy as anyone else and because of SAWPA they are getting treated with more respect and their work can continue to contribute to the environmental health of South Africa.”
the landfills
taken out of the hands
waste pickers.” Musa
Musa Chamane from groundWork addressing waste pickers during a SAWPA protest. Credit: Chris Louw
SAWPA’s registered waste pickers on strike, their slogans speaking to their role in recycling and the misconceptions people may have about them. Credit: Chris Louw
Given the country’s energy crisis, and infrastructure woes there are some reservations about Electric Vehicles (EVs) as a viable alternative to petrol cars in South Africa. The reality is that EVs are already commonplace, with an 83% increase in EV sales in South Africa for 2024.
By Duncan Nortier
Electric vehicles are the future of South African transport
The South African government is also considering a ban on the import of petrol vehicles from 2035, and whilst not set, it is interesting to see this measure even being considered. The Just Energy Transition, South Africa’s plan to move to a green and climate proof economy, not only encompasses a diversification in the energy mix but also the adoption of green technology throughout the country. E-mobility is one of the pillars that the South African National Energy Development
Institute proposes as part of the green future.
For those who have not dipped their toes into the electric vehicle market, it can seem like a mystery, but there has been a considerable effort by the public and private sector in getting South Africa EV ready. Gridcars, an EV charging station specialist, has been growing the market for some years now, preparing for an electric future.
What about the infrastructure
The number one question that people have for
Winstone Jordaan, director at Gridcars, is ‘Where do I fill up?’ and the reality is that there are currently more than 350 charging stations located across the country in strategic locations to allow for both city commuting and long-form travel. “This notion that you will struggle to find a charger is just not true, the country currently has the infrastructure to support the current load of EVs on the market,” adds Winstone.
Gridcars, a company that specialises in EV charging stations, has steadily grown South Africa’s charging infrastructure and now owns roughly 60-70% of national charging points. According to Winstone, they use market trends to ensure the grid system is always bigger than the current EV market which encourages growth in the sector, “we do not want to overinvest, but we do want to constantly meet the current demand. There will always be enough charging stations for the South African market and of all preventions to this market infrastructure is not one of them.”
While the country has surpassed 200 days without loadshedding the anxiety
Winstone Jordaan, Director of Girdcars
Charging stations are located in easy to access areas
Not only are long trips cross country possible, they are cheaper with EVs
This map, available here, shows charging stations across the country.
persists, and Winstone says, “The reality is that charging stations use a diverse mix of energy and do not solely rely on the national grid, load shedding has no impact on charging.”
Forming part of Gridcars’ business strategy is the visual confirmation of use and availability of EV chargers and their interactive map does just that. The map shows all their chargers across South Africa, and their status- whether they are available, off, and in use.
Range anxiety
For some the idea of a car that needs charging with a limited range can seem daunting, but Winstone disagrees, “Range anxiety is something that only people without an EV suffer from. Petrol cars also have ranges, need to be filled up, and long trips require planning too. The only difference is time. When you are making a long trip you can drive to adjust the range, and stop to charge as you would fill up a petrol car and make peace with the timing.”
The benefits of EVs
EVs are cleaner, there is no debate. While the environmental impact of EVs is comparable to the latest euro 5 cars, this is a minority and Gridcars states that EVs that source their energy from even the dirtiest electricity sources are at
least 30% more efficient than petrol cars, “a number that improves dramatically when we draw energy from renewables or cleaner coal sources” adds Winstone.
The environmental impact is noteworthy but in South Africa, people are more concerned with their wallets, and this is where Winstone makes a compelling case. “The choice to have an EV is a choice unlike any other, and on the surface, EVs are more expensive but if you look at operating costs then EVs become much cheaper in the long run.” For instance, if you are driving more than 100km a day then EVs become dramatically cheaper over a long period. The operating costs of an EV are 76% less per kilometre than a similar petrol car.
End game
The official EV white paper outlines a roadmap for South Africa’s E-Mobility goals. This includes expanding the local manufacturing of EVs from as early as 2026, as well as an active approach to expanding charging infrastructure. Winstone says, “It’s not a question of ‘are EVs the future” anymore but when will the EV future come to fruition.” South Africa’s EV goals are in line with the global context and with the available charging infrastructure and plans to expand South Africa is prepped for the future of transport.
Not only are long trips cross country possible, they are cheaper with EVs
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