WASTE MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT

The 2022 Waste Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape identifies significant value-add potential in the waste sectors of Cape Town and the Western Cape, estimating a total potential of R320 million to R5 billion annually. The report highlights organic waste as the greatest opportunity, driven by provincial landfill restrictions aiming for 100% diversion by 2027 and the City of Cape Town's (CCT) goal of 100% organic waste diversion by 2027. Key drivers include rising landfill gate fees—with the CCT having the highest metropolitan fee in South Africa at R557 per tonne (excl. VAT)—and the implementation of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for paper, packaging, electronics, and lighting as of November 2021. The report details specific opportunities in black soldier fly larvae production, biogas, and composting, while noting barriers such as inadequate source separation and the lack of reliable e-waste data. It also outlines the CCT's planned investments in four new material recovery facilities (MRFs) and its strategic shift toward a circular waste economy.

• The waste beneficiation opportunities in organics, plastics, and e-waste within Cape Town have the potential to add between R320 million and R5 billion in annual value to the local economy.
• Organic waste represents the most significant opportunity, with landfilled organic waste in Cape Town alone possessing a value-add potential of R16.7 million to R3.2 billion per year.
• The Western Cape's Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has set an organic waste diversion plan targeting 50% diversion from landfills by 2022 and 100% by 2027.
• The City of Cape Town (CCT) has the highest municipal landfill gate fee for general waste among South Africa's eight metropolitan areas, recorded at R557 (excluding 15% VAT) per tonne for 2021/22.
• Mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) measures became required by November 5, 2021, for producers of paper, packaging, lighting, and electrical and electronic equipment.
• Plastic waste in the Western Cape has a high potential value; MSW plastics generated in the province in 2020 are estimated to have a recycling value between R321 million and R2.2 billion.
• The City of Cape Town is investing over R1 billion to establish four new material recovery facilities (MRFs) over the next ten years to complement the existing Kraaifontein MRF.
• E-waste in the Western Cape is estimated to have a market value between R55.2 million and R109.8 million per year, though the value of e-waste actually landfilled in Cape Town is much lower, between R6.1 million and R7.6 million.
• A critical barrier to the viability of organic waste solutions is the lack of source separation, which leads to high contamination of municipal solid waste (MSW) organics.
• The National Waste Management Strategy (2020) sets ambitious landfill diversion targets: 40% within 5 years, 55% within 10 years, at least 70% within 15 years, and zero-waste to landfill beyond 2035.

APA

Smout, S. (2022). WASTE MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT. GreenCape. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_MIR_7_4_22_FINAL-3.pdf

Chicago

Smout, Sam. WASTE MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT. GreenCape, 2022. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_MIR_7_4_22_FINAL-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Smout |first1=Sam |title=WASTE MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT |publisher=GreenCape |date=2022 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_MIR_7_4_22_FINAL-3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{smout2022waste, author = {Smout, Sam}, title = {{WASTE MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORT}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2022}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WASTE_MIR_7_4_22_FINAL-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }