It is estimated that South Africa generates around 122-million tonnes of waste annually, 90% of which goes to landfills. Industry estimates that only 10% of the country’s waste is diverted, mainly through recycling.

South Africa’s legal framework for waste management aligns with international standards on Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, waste licensing and classification. However, the country’s poor waste recovery ratio is a result of infrastructure gaps and weak enforcement of regulations and low landfill disposal tariffs, which encourage high volumes of waste to landfills, asserts Rokiwaste MD Peter Ezra.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research National Waste Baseline Report shows that much of South Africa’s waste is generated by economic activity in sectors such as mining, manufacturing and commercial operations.

According to Ezra, institutional support for businesses seeking to minimise waste remains fragmented and underdeveloped and there is a need for strategic, innovative waste management interventions for business and industry.

Rokiwaste specialises in waste minimisation technology and recycling infrastructure, serving a range of industries nationwide. The company offers customised waste minimisation solutions such as its so-called ‘green monster’, a 50-t automatic baler, engineered to streamline onsite waste management operations while delivering measurable cost and space savings. The solution helps divert waste to recycling more efficiently, recover untapped resources, reduce waste transportation costs and collect current, accurate data on waste.

Ezra points out that there has been a recent increase in investments from global companies in South African waste management businesses, noting that this brings momentum to the sector and a greater focus on waste minimisation businesses that innovate and engineer customised solutions aimed at optimising resource recovery and efficiencies.

“Data generated by smart solutions is key, empowering our customers to make smarter data-driven decisions throughout their waste operations – from how much floor space is allocated and optimising logistics to compliance reporting and consumer messaging,” he says.

Rising operating and transport costs, space constraints, increased pressure on efficiency and compliance with EPR regulations, are recognised as factors shifting South African industry towards implementing targeted waste management solutions.

 “What we see is greater interest in having a technical partner with a proven record of innovation to help companies improve or transform their waste handling systems with tailored equipment and actual engineering expertise. There’s pressure from all sides - from mounting environmental issues and concerned consumers to new investors seeking smarter solutions and broader adoption of global best practices,” notes Ezra.

He concludes that implementing waste equipment and engineering solutions such as those supplied by Rokiwaste will help businesses improve efficiencies and save costs over time, while also having a positive impact on the environment.