Effecting a transition in waste management in a developing country context: the case of organic waste in the Western Cape, South Africa

There is increasing interest in organic waste beneficiation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, with multiple drivers encouraging value-add mechanisms over landfilling. There is increased local government ambition... [ view full abstract ]

There is increasing interest in organic waste beneficiation in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, with multiple drivers encouraging value-add mechanisms over landfilling. There is increased local government ambition for achieving the diversion of organic waste from landfill, with targets of 50% diversion over the next 5 years, and 100% diversion over the next 10 years. Certain residues such as abattoir wastes are already being banned from disposal at many regional landfills. These changes in waste policy are encouraging the uptake of a number of organic waste beneficiation technologies, as business and industry aim to comply with legislation without compromising their profitability. Potential value-add opportunities include composting, rendering, anaerobic digestion and insect protein for animal feed, some of which can be enabled by industrial symbiosis.

In addition to legislative drivers, market drivers also play a significant role in the growing bioeconomy. The dwindling supply of liquefied petroleum gas from local refineries has led to major gas distributors seeking alternatives, such as compressed biomethane, to satisfy industrial demand. The supply of food-grade carbon dioxide is also a market of interest for gas distributors. There is also interest in on-site production of electricity for cost energy security and cost savings. There is demand for enhanced animal feeds in agriculture and aquaculture. Additionally, insect protein has been identified as an alternative to fishmeal and soymeal. However, there are barriers hindering the uptake of organic waste beneficiation technologies, such as lengthy timeframes associated with Public Private Partnerships for municipal solid waste (MSW), the cheap cost of landfilling, and more stringent norms and standards for composting (which has significantly increased costs).

 This paper explores the impending transition in organic waste management practices occurring in the Western Cape. This is done by discussing a number of case studies of beneficiation projects that have been developed in the Western Cape which illustrate the diversity of responses in urban and rural contexts. These include the following: a combined materials recovery facility (MRF) / biogas plant accepting municipal solid waste to produce upgraded and compressed biomethane for sale; a selection of businesses (including abattoirs, a meat processor, fruit processor, fishery and farm) situated in a rural, agriculturally-dominated municipality seeking alternative solutions to landfill, potentially leading to an industrial eco‑system; and lastly, a biogas plant accepting wastes from neighbouring areas, in order to produce electricity and heat for use on-site.

 The case study work will be used to illustrate the importance of spatial considerations (location in relation to other industries as well as nearby landfills), waste characteristics (volumes, seasonality and diversity), and issues specific to developing countries (nascent technologies, shortage of skills and expertise) as challenges to effecting the transition in waste management practice. It also provides reflections on challenges moving from lower value-add to higher value‑add beneficiation of agricultural residues in developing country contexts.