Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017

The report examines the transition of South Africa's waste sector from a landfill-centric model to a sustainable waste economy. It highlights a significant gap between current recycling rates (approximately 10%) and the potential resource value of R17 billion that could be unlocked through full recycling. In the Western Cape, the report identifies key opportunities in recyclables, organics, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste, while noting that municipal financial constraints necessitate public-private partnerships to achieve a 20% waste diversion target by 2019.

• The South African waste industry is currently dominated by collection and landfilling, with recycling accounting for only about 10% of activity. The sector generates approximately R15 billion in revenue and employs 29,833 people.
• There is a substantial economic opportunity in waste recovery; recycling 100% of the 13 identified waste streams could unlock R17 billion in resource value annually, although achieving the 2022 Roadmap goals (Scenario 3) would unlock R9.2 billion.
• South Africa aims for a 20% waste diversion rate by weight by 2019. For the Western Cape, this requires diverting 1.5 million tonnes per annum, including 800,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW).
• Western Cape municipalities face significant financial barriers to alternative waste treatment (AWT). Compliance costs for disposal exceed R1 billion, and an additional R1 billion investment in AWT infrastructure is needed to meet the 2019 diversion target.
• The Western Cape's waste profile is nearly evenly split between municipal solid waste (53%) and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste (47%). Agricultural residues represent 28% (2 million tonnes) of the province's total waste.
• The provincial government of the Western Cape plans to ban all organics from landfills within 10 years, with an interim goal of reducing organics in landfills by 50% over the next five years.
• E-waste presents a high-employment opportunity for SMMEs; an 8% increase in e-waste diversion could create 650 local jobs and a market potential of R22 million.
• In the City of Cape Town, approximately R1.1 to R1.4 million worth of sub-base material for roads is landfilled every month in the form of builders' rubble.
• Recent legislative changes in 2016 include the publication of the National Pricing Strategy for Waste Management (NPSWM), the requirement for industry waste management plans (IndWMP), and a landfill ban on all types of light bulbs.
• Private sector investment in the waste sector is active; in 2016, four projects in the Western Cape attracted R1.1 billion in investment and created 148 jobs, including a recycled PET bottle-to-bottle plant and a MSW biogas plant.

APA

GreenCape (2017). Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Waste-MIR-2017-electronic-FINAL-v2-3.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017. 2017. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Waste-MIR-2017-electronic-FINAL-v2-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017 |date=2017 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Waste-MIR-2017-electronic-FINAL-v2-3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencape2017waste, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2017}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Waste-MIR-2017-electronic-FINAL-v2-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }