SenvironmentThe
SenvironmentThe circulareconomy’spromise toreduce landfillsand avert disasterIn a world marred by shortages, rapidly depleting naturalresources and mounting landfill waste, South Africacould grow increasingly dependent on circular economysystems soon as companies grapple to satisfy growingconsumer demand.WWhile the global circular economy market is valued at overR550-billion, as per an analysis by Spherical Insights, South Africais severely lagging the rest of the world. According to the Councilfor Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the country has asocioeconomic cycling rate of only 2%, indicating an alarmingly lowrate of recycling and reuse of materials throughout the economy. It’sestimated that about 90% of waste ends up at landfills instead of beingreintegrated into production processes.Patricia Schröder, president of the Institute of Waste Managementof Southern Africa (IWMSA), warns, “We are stuck in a cycle ofmanaging waste and dealing with overburdened landfill sites. Theanswer to South Africa’s waste challenges is not waste management, butrather waste minimisation. The most effective way forward is to bringmore companies of every size into the circular economy and reduce theamount of waste we dump on our landfills.”What is the circular economy?In a perfectly circular economy, all materials are fully utilised throughvarious stages in the production process, with no waste being created.“This is more the ideal, rather than what’s plausibly achievable underreal-world conditions. Most materials degrade in quality and, thus,usability over time, and some modern products have many layers oftightly integrated materials that would require large amounts of energyto separate and recycle properly,” explains Schröder. But, she believes,just because something is complex and imperfect doesn’t mean societyshouldn’t work to be better every day. The goal is rather a near-circulareconomy, which companies can help drive by implementing circularstrategies into their operations and encouraging the same throughouttheir supply chain.IWMSA recommends that businesses minimise waste by, first,reducing the resources needed in the production process and limitingsurpluses. Then, use any remaining material in other aspects of theproduction process. What can’t be reused, needs to be recycled followingthe correct recycling protocols.From there, waste management sector participants may be able toreclaim some material to make other products, and waste that can beused as fuel should be utilised to generate electricity. Only after each ofthese avenues has been exhausted should any remaining waste be sentto a landfill.To close the production loop and significantly reduce waste,companies can improve product designs to reduce the resourcesrequired, extend lifespans, make them easily repairable and improverecyclability. Additional closed-loop recycling systems can be introducedthat, for example, chemically break down plastics for reuse in highqualityapplications, or recover metals like aluminium and steel for reuse.Companies also need to make use of biodegradable materials likebioplastics or natural fibres where possible and utilise renewable energyin production and recycling processes to further limit negative impactson the environment.Industry trends and challengesTo ultimately achieve an acceptable level of circular economyimplementation in South Africa, Schröder lists several critical barriersthat urgently need to be overcome in the next few years.Having grown by over 835 000 people within the space of a year,South Africa’s population exceeded 63-million in July 2024, with lifeexpectancy having risen by nearly 13 years over the past two decades.Larger populations that live longer have significant benefits for theeconomy but also place considerable strain on resources and createmore waste.According to Schröder, limited funding for essential waste servicesacross the country further compounds the issue, since many areas simplylack the resources to implement modern and efficient disposal methodsor to invest in cutting-edge recycling technologies. Moreover, withoutsufficient funding, municipal collection points often fail to separaterecyclable materials efficiently, leaving smaller businesses with limitedoptions and larger companies to pay for expensive private contractors.Lastly, businesses eager to incorporate secondary raw materialsinto their production processes discover that the supply of recycledor reclaimed inputs is either unreliable or prohibitively expensive,dampening their willingness to make long-term commitments tosustainable practices.24 | Service magazine
environmentSPatricia Schröder,IWMSA President.“While industries are capable and often willing to take on the bulkof the work to drive forward circular economy initiatives, the overallresponsibility ultimately rests on everyone’s shoulders. This includeswaste management agencies, government, individual municipalitiesand the everyday person who uses the products. If we want to reachour country’s sustainability goals in the coming years, and avoid alandfill crisis, we need to work together to find a better way forward,”concludes Schröder. SHOW MUNICIPALITIES CAN TURN ORGANIC WASTE INTO A RESOURCEUp to 40% of all landfilled waste takes up unnecessary space, as itis both organic and biodegradable. This so-called “organic waste”,which includes food, garden and agricultural waste, makes up asignificant portion of municipal solid waste in South Africa.“This is an opportunity that has to be tapped into,” says MpenduloGinindza, past president of the IWMSA. “The correct treatment oforganic waste matters. It protects the climate by reducing methaneemissions from our landfills, reduces waste, recycles organicmaterials into valuable compost and creates green jobs.”National and municipal approaches neededThe government has implemented several initiatives to address theproblem, including the National Environmental Management WasteAct (NEMWA), which encourages waste diversion from landfillsthrough recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion.“Composting is seen as a cost-effective method of organic wastediversion,” Ginindza explains. “However, municipalities are alsorequired to develop integrated waste management plans that includeorganic waste, but these are often not executed to their full potential.”“The Western Cape region has a complete organic waste diversiontarget of 2027. Since 2022, home composting efforts have increased,with the City of Cape Town rolling out home composting bins andraising awareness of the importance of composting.”Challenges and solutionsAccording to Ginindza, there is no single challenge that hindersSouth African municipalities from implementing large-scaleorganic waste diversion programmes.“Rather, it is a range of issues, including the implementation of theNational Organic Waste Strategy, economic and financial viability,behavioural change and investment mechanisms,” she explains.Making a few key changes, however, could support thetransformation of organic waste into resources like compost,biofuel or energy. “Composting can be performed in a less costlyopen window system operating on a floor slab (open) or shelteredconcrete bay (bay composting) with a common set of mechanisedequipment,” she says. “In-vessel composting systems operate in atunnel or drum. Anaerobic digestion treatment, in different technicalvariants, involves bacterial decomposition of waste in the absence ofoxygen to produce biogas, and mechanical biological treatment oftenrequires multiple components and processes with varying costs.”The cost factor of implementing programmes like these canbe tackled by thinking innovatively about partnerships betweenmunicipalities, private sector entities and communities.“A multi-faceted approach would involve collaboration, incentivesand shared responsibility,” Ginindza explains. “Through publicprivatepartnerships, contracting out services and joint ventures,municipalities can collaborate with private firms to build compostingfacilities, anaerobic digestion or biogas plants using municipal landand private investment.”She says in their goal to attract private sector involvementmunicipalities can offer incentives that align with sustainability goals.“Implement tax rebates or reductions for companies that invest inorganic waste recycling infrastructure or offer waste collection andprocessing services. Green certifications or public recognition canbe given to companies participating in organic waste managementprojects, which can enhance their brand value and corporate socialresponsibility reputation.”*According to an audit by the CSIR.Service magazine | 25
