Municipalities in South Africa ‘throwing away a goldmine’
South Africa throws away millions of tons of organic waste every year, but this waste could be a goldmine of compost, energy, and much-needed green jobs.
Up to 40% of South Africa’s municipal landfill waste is organic.
This organic material, including food, garden, and agricultural waste, not only takes up valuable space but also significantly contributes to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
Looking at just food waste as an example, StatsSA estimates that 10 million tonnes of food goes to waste every year in the country – most of which ending up straight in landfills.
Mpendulo Ginindza, past President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) emphasises that “this is an opportunity that has to be tapped into.”
“The correct treatment of organic waste matters; it protects the climate by reducing methane emissions from our landfills, reduces waste, recycles organic materials into valuable compost, and creates green jobs,” said Ginindza.
According to a study by GreenCape, the benefits of organic waste management for business alone are plentiful, including:
| Category | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Competitiveness | – Reduction in landfill disposal costs |
| – Revenue generation in secondary/tertiary markets | |
| – Tax deductible donations | |
| – Corporate social responsibility | |
| Social | – Meal recovery and reduced food insecurity |
| – Job creation and security | |
| Environmental | – Landfill diversion |
| – Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions | |
| – Increased water conservation | |
| – Reduced energy consumption | |
| – Healthier soils |
The government has implemented several initiatives to address the problem, including the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEMWA), which encourages waste diversion from landfills through recycling, composting, and anaerobic digestion.
Composting is seen as a cost-effective method of organic waste diversion; “however, municipalities are also required to develop integrated waste management plans that include organic waste, but these are often not executed to their full potential,” said Ginindza.
Developed countries around the world have a national framework in place mandating organic waste diversion from landfills — something that could make a big difference on home soil.
Ginindza points out that some local urban areas do, however, show promising food and garden waste collection initiatives.
“The Western Cape region has a complete organic waste diversion target of 2027. Since 2022, home composting efforts have increased, with the City of Cape Town rolling out home composting bins and raising awareness of the importance of composting.”
The question then falls to why the current state of organic waste in South Africa is the way it is.
According to Ginindza, there is no single challenge that hinders South African municipalities from implementing large-scale organic waste diversion programs.
“Rather, it is a range of issues, including the implementation of the National Organic Waste Strategy, economic and financial viability, behavioral change, and investment mechanisms,” she said.
However, Ginindza said that making a few key changes could support the transformation of organic waste into resources like compost, biofuel, or energy.
She explained that composting can be done using a cost-effective open window system, either on a floor slab (open composting) or in a sheltered concrete bay (bay composting), utilising a common set of mechanised equipment.
In-vessel composting operates in tunnels or drums. Anaerobic digestion (AD) uses bacterial decomposition of waste without oxygen to produce biogas, and comes in various forms. Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) typically involves multiple components and processes, which can vary in cost.
Ginindza said that the cost factor of implementing programs like these can be tackled by thinking innovatively about partnerships between municipalities, private sector entities, and communities.
“A multi-faceted approach would involve collaboration, incentives, and shared responsibility.
“Through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), contracting out services, and joint ventures, municipalities can collaborate with private firms to build composting facilities, anaerobic digestion plants, or biogas plants using municipal land and private investment,” said the past IWMSA president.
She says in their goal to attract private sector involvement, municipalities can offer incentives that align with sustainability goals.
“Implement tax rebates or reductions for companies that invest in organic waste recycling infrastructure or offer waste collection and processing services.
“Green certifications or public recognition can be given to companies participating in organic waste management projects, which can enhance their brand value and corporate social responsibility reputation,” said Ginindza.
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