New South African initiative to drive community engagement

From the newsletter

The South African government has launched an e-waste recycling pilot project to involve local communities in waste management. Through financial rewards and other incentives, the initiative encourages residents of Thulamela Local Municipality in Limpopo Province to collect and recycle electronic waste.

• A growing trend across Africa is the involvement of communities in waste management through incentivised programs, driving local participation and promoting recycling.

• Community engagement is pivotal in Africa’s waste management sector. Economic opportunities resulting from waste management have a potentially large impact given the low rates of employment. 

More details

• The e-waste recycling initiative responds to South Africa’s growing e-waste crisis, which totals over 360,000 tons of e-waste annually, with only 10% being recycled. Limpopo Province, where the project is being piloted, is one of the regions facing a severe e-waste problem, according to the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affair, Bernice Swarts.

• The project, launched in Thulamela Local Municipality, encourages locals to collect and deliver e-waste to designated collection centers set up by partner Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs). Once collected, the e-waste is weighed and the individual's details are recorded. 

• Incentives will then be paid out via bank transfers or mobile money, based on a price per kilogram, with a minimum payment of approximately $5.30 per kilogram, depending on the weight and type of the e-waste. Participants will also receive a participation voucher ranging from $1.59 to $2.65  depending on the number of items dropped off. Locals can also participate in the "spin-a-wheel" competition offering a chance to win an extra voucher of up to $5.30, redeemable at local stores.

• “The success of this project relies heavily on the participation of the local community. By providing easy access to collection points, recycling facilities and guidance on properly separating and disposing of old electronics, we aim to shift how residents view waste,” said the Deputy Minister.

• Beyond managing waste, the project is also expected to create jobs and stimulate local economic development. Its progress will be monitored through tracking the volume of e-waste collected, evaluating the effectiveness of community awareness campaigns and assessing job creation. If successful, it will be expanded to other regions, helping the country move closer to its environmental goals, such as reducing landfill waste, increasing recycling rates and promoting a circular economy.

• This initiative aligns with South African waste laws, which prohibit the disposal of e-waste in landfills. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for the electrical and electronic sector, in effect since November 2021, mandates producers to take back and ensure proper recycling of their products, aiming to reduce environmental impact.

• Building on South Africa’s efforts, similar initiatives across Africa are leveraging community engagement to encourage recycling and waste management. In Nigeria, Wecyclers empowers low-income communities with cash and rewards for recyclables, while RecyclePoints operates a point-based system offering groceries, airtime and household goods in exchange for recyclables. The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) Buy-Back Initiative ensures packaging waste is repurposed, creating jobs in the recycling sector.

• In Ghana, Coliba Buy-Back Centre in Accra incentivizes locals to collect plastics, aluminum cans and other plastics, directly promoting recycling and environmental cleanliness. Kenya’s FlipFlopi Plastic Collection Program incentivizes plastic waste collection through a community-driven cash-on-collection model. 

• In North Africa, Egypt’s Big Scrappers, a tech-driven recycling startup offers a platform where users can arrange for the collection of non-organic waste from their homes. In return, participants receive cash or in-app points redeemable through the company's marketplace. Meanwhile, Go Clean,  a recycling solutions company allows locals to schedule waste pickups and in exchange, they receive cash or redeemable points, encouraging active participation in recycling efforts.

• Beyond financial incentives, these programs foster long-term behavioral change by educating communities about the importance of waste segregation and responsible disposal. They encourage individuals to view waste as a valuable resource, promoting sustainable habits and ensuring that recycling becomes an ongoing practice, leading to more effective waste management and environmental sustainability.

Our take

• The initiative is a step in the right direction, but it is only the beginning. Achieving long-term success requires continued efforts from all stakeholders.

• Incentive programs can boost recycling, but without sufficient recycling centers and transport networks, they risk inefficiency. Governments should invest in waste collection infrastructure to ensure collected materials are properly processed and integrated into a circular economy.

• Many initiatives remain localized, limiting their impact. Governments and private-sector players should collaborate to scale successful models, such as South Africa’s e-waste program and Nigeria’s Wecyclers, to make waste collection and recycling more sustainable.