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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up to 40% of South Africa’s municipal landfill waste is organic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at just food waste as an example, StatsSA estimates that 10 million tonnes of food goes to waste every year in the country \u2013 most of which ending up straight in landfills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mpendulo Ginindza, past President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) emphasises that \u201cthis is an opportunity that has to be tapped into.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Ginindza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a study by GreenCape<\/strong><\/a>, the benefits of organic waste management for business alone are plentiful, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government has implemented several initiatives to address the problem, including the National Environmental Management Waste Act <\/strong><\/a>(NEMWA), which encourages waste diversion from landfills through recycling, composting, and anaerobic digestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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,\u201d said Ginindza.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCategory<\/strong><\/th> Benefits<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Competitiveness<\/strong><\/td> – Reduction in landfill disposal costs<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Revenue generation in secondary\/tertiary markets<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Tax deductible donations<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Corporate social responsibility<\/td><\/tr> Social<\/strong><\/td> – Meal recovery and reduced food insecurity<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Job creation and security<\/td><\/tr> Environmental<\/strong><\/td> – Landfill diversion<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Increased water conservation<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Reduced energy consumption<\/td><\/tr> <\/td> – Healthier soils<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n