The waste management and recovery market is being driven by initiatives to recycle materials, recover energy and minimise pollution. In southern Africa, the recycling industry is set to double in size within the next decade. The sector is very active. New energy recovery technologies, such as gasification and pyrolysis, are being developed. Existing technologies such as anaerobic digestion and composting are being used to treat organic waste and requirements to recycle new waste mono streams such as cars, batteries, waste oil and packaging are being introduced. Landfill gas is being flared from large municipal dumps in many areas with successful sales having been concluded for certified emission reduction certificates.
South Africa has set a national target to reduce by 70% the amount of ‘Big Five’ waste products (plastics, cans, paper, glass and tyres) going to landfills by 2022, and to have plans in place to minimise and treat the remaining 30%. Along with this goal, the National Waste Management Bill will ensure that waste management is approached in an integrated way – from the point of generation to final disposal. This Bill also sets targets for the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfill and encourages alternative treatment such as recycling, composting and gas flaring.
Inspired Evolution has identified the waste sector as a high growth opportunity and already has a number of waste-related technologies, projects and companies under scrutiny in its emerging investment pipeline.