Government has called on the Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and their members to significantly increase the rate of waste diversion, especially of plastics and composite packaging.
“The PROs and their members are well-positioned to drive this shift — not only through recycling targets, but by closing material loops and designing products with end-of-life in mind,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said on Wednesday.
South African cities are facing a significant landfill capacity challenge, with some expected to run out of landfill space within the next six years if drastic measures are not taken to significantly reduce waste generation and accelerate recycling efforts.
“Our country still sends over 60% of its waste to landfills, a figure we cannot afford if we are serious about achieving our climate and development goals.
“Through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, we aim to significantly increase the rate of waste diversion, especially of plastics and composite packaging. But this requires bold action,” Swarts made these remarks during the department’s Waste Khoro Conference held in Bloemfontein, Free State.
She urged PROs to support Buy-Back Centres, increase materials recovery facilities (MRFs) across all provinces, invest in post-consumer recycling technologies, market development for secondary materials, and better integration of the informal and formal waste sectors.
“The department strongly encourages PROs and industry to actively integrate waste pickers into their value chains.
“This includes offering fair compensation, formalised working conditions, access to equipment and protective gear, and training opportunities. Inclusive EPR is not a favour — it is an imperative for justice, efficiency, and long-term sustainability,” the Deputy Minister said.
She emphasised that waste pickers are not beneficiaries — they are central players in the waste economy.
“For decades, they have recovered materials and diverted waste from landfills without formal recognition or support. We also expect producers and PROs to meet their responsibilities fully and with urgency. Waste picker integration is key.
“We urge all producers and PROs to embed education into their programmes — to help consumers understand separation-at-source, responsible disposal, and the value of recyclable materials.
“Awareness drives should be localised, multilingual, and responsive to community dynamics. An informed public is not only a better participant in recycling schemes — it becomes a driving force for innovation and accountability,” Swarts said.
She reaffirmed that the government remains committed to enabling conditions that support innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth within the waste sector to recognise waste as a resource and waste as an input material to manufacturing other products and job creation in the process.
The Waste Khoro Conference is an annual event organised and coordinated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), attended by waste management officers from the three spheres of government, as well as representatives from the private sector.
They convene for three days to discuss key issues relating to waste management in South Africa, focusing on several waste management priorities, including addressing the growing crisis of landfill space in the country. -SAnews.gov.za
