South Africa generated 55 million tonnes of waste in 2017.
About 8% of the total waste volume, is from Municipal waste while general organic waste accounts for 34.6%.
This is according to the State of Waste Report 2018.
Moreover, the General Household Survey conducted in 2023, indicates that only 10% of the country’s waste is recycled.
Bernice Swarts, the Deputy Minister, of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DAFF), was part of the Waste Khoro Conference in Bloemfontein, Free State, on Wednesday.
The event gathers waste management officers from three spheres of government, as well as representatives from the private sector, to discuss key issues relating to waste management in South Africa.
Swarts said “this Khoro comes at a crucial moment in our country’s journey towards a circular economy — one in which materials are continuously repurposed, waste is minimised, and economic opportunities are maximised. We are putting emphasis on compliance improvement and licencing as part of our transition contributing to circular economy.”
She also said there was an increase in industry participation and registration under various PROs; in the last four years.
Similarly, there was an uptake on investment in infrastructure for collection, sorting, and recycling and support to waste pickers.
But informal waste collectors (reclaimers), who collect some 80-90% of paper are still not fully integrated in the system.
Additionally, education and behaviour change, is lagging behind.
Picture: Supplied