ILembe District Municipality made public that it seeks to establish a dedicated Waste Management Department in the 2026/2027 financial year.
That department will oversee the development of comprehensive disposal strategies, regulate practices and enforce local waste management by-laws.
Thobani Shandu, Mayor of the District, said waste management is a development imperative and not merely a compliance issue.
Speaking at the 2025/2026 KwaZulu-Natal Waste Economy Indaba, held at the eBandla Hotel in Ballito last week, Shandu said iLembe is actively positioning itself as the prime destination for piloting waste economy initiatives in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Indaba was organised by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), titled “turning Waste into Worth: Building a Circular Future for Kwazulu-Natal.”
An outcome of the Indaba, is a Waste Economy Strategy for the province.
Once adopted, the strategy facilitates the establishment and management of shared infrastructure, such as transfer stations, regional landfills, and coordinating service agreements to achieve efficiency across multiple local municipalities.
Such are expected to include waste-to-energy and recycling hubs, and community-led initiatives designed to simultaneously create jobs and ensure environmental protection.
“Our message is clear: iLembe is open for collaboration. We invite investors, innovators, and development partners to work with us in building a circular economy that benefits every community” said Shandu.
For more waste to energy projects in SA: https://earthwatcher82.gumroad.com/l/aeqgdb?_gl=11j6gtb4_gaNzY0NDgwNzk0LjE3NjUwODA4MDU._ga_6LJN6D94N6*czE3NjUwODA4MDUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjUwODYyMjYkajU5JGwwJGgw.
Picture: Supplied