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The report analyzes the South African waste sector, which is worth approximately R15 billion and employs 29,000 people. It highlights the Western Cape's higher recycling rates (14%) compared to the national average (9.8%) and examines various waste streams, including plastics, paper, glass, metals, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. The document identifies significant barriers to waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, such as complex municipal procurement processes and regulatory hurdles, while outlining potential for biogas generation from agricultural and organic waste. It also details GreenCape's initiatives, such as the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), to promote a circular economy.

The Eden District Municipality (EDM) is seeking a private partner for a 10-year PPP to develop, finance, and operate a regional landfill in the Mossel Bay area to serve Bitou, George, Knysna, and Mossel Bay. The project includes the bulk transfer of waste from George, Knysna, and Bitou, and the implementation of alternative waste treatment (AWT) technologies to reduce landfill volumes. The regional landfill is designed for a 50-year lifetime, with initial cells covering 200 ha and reaching 12m above ground level. Bidders must demonstrate technical and financial capacity, including a minimum of 70 points on a technical evaluation scale, and provide proof of B-BBEE compliance and tax clearance.

The South African waste economy, valued at R15.3 billion, is transitioning from 'end of pipe' to 'cradle to cradle' solutions under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. While the recycling rate stands at 19.6%, the sector faces significant hurdles in municipal procurement, feedstock security, and legal authorisation backlogs. In the Western Cape, municipalities like Cape Town, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch are pursuing waste-to-energy and organic waste treatment to address critical landfill airspace shortages, with some landfills estimated to have less than 3 years of capacity remaining.

The South African waste economy is valued at R15.3 billion, representing approximately 0.51% of GDP. While the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) has shifted the sector toward 'cradle-to-cradle' solutions, developers face significant hurdles, including complex municipal procurement processes, long legal authorisation backlogs, and difficulties in securing long-term feedstock agreements. In the Western Cape, limited landfill airspace—with some sites having less than three years of capacity—is driving a need for decentralized waste-to-energy and recycling projects.

The WWF Sanlam Partnership (2012-2014) focused on protecting South Africa's strategic water source areas and promoting corporate water stewardship. Key achievements include mapping the 8% of land area that provides 50% of the country's surface water, launching the 'Journey of Water' public awareness campaign, and developing tools to help investors assess water risks for JSE-listed companies. The partnership also implemented operational water-saving measures at Sanlam, reducing consumption by 41% against a 2010 baseline, and collaborated on disaster risk reduction in the Eden District Municipality.