Sitha Maliwa:
As World Environment Day on June 5 approaches, global attention is again focused on plastic pollution and the growing menace of microplastics. While this spotlight is well deserved, experts in South Africa’s waste sector are urging the nation not to overlook another urgent and mounting environmental crisis: food and organic waste.
Every year, millions of tonnes of organic waste are dumped in South Africa’s already strained landfills. This, according to Brian Küsel, Director of BiobiN South Africa, is not only environmentally unsustainable, it’s a missed opportunity with far-reaching consequences.
“This isn’t just about garbage,” Küsel says. “It’s about climate change, food security, public health, and economic opportunity. Organic waste is the hidden crisis that could unlock massive benefits if we treat it as a resource instead of a burden.”
Organic waste, from uneaten food to garden clippings, makes up a significant portion of the country’s municipal solid waste. When it ends up in landfills, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. In cities like Cape Town, the waste sector is responsible for up to 11% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with organic waste being a primary contributor.
At the same time, landfills themselves are reaching capacity. In the Western Cape, many municipalities are projected to run out of landfill space in less than five years, prompting the search for expensive, hard-to-license new landfill sites.
Then there’s the issue of water pollution. Organic waste in landfills generates leachate, a toxic liquid that can seep into groundwater and contaminate surface water. Despite the use of liners in landfill design, failures are not uncommon, and the results can be devastating for both ecosystems and communities.
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of South Africa’s organic waste crisis is its link to food insecurity. According to recent figures, 10.3 million tonnes of food are wasted annually – around 45% of the total food supply. This waste exists in stark contrast to the country’s persistent hunger statistics, highlighting an avoidable tragedy of inefficiency and inequality.
“Edible food is being discarded while millions go hungry,” says Küsel. “That’s not just wasteful – it’s morally indefensible.”
Despite the grim statistics, the good news is that organic waste also presents a massive economic and environmental opportunity. In the Western Cape alone, between 759,000 and 868,000 tonnes of organic waste were generated in 2020. If properly processed and valorised, through composting, for example, this waste stream could be worth anywhere from R16.7 million to R3.2 billion to the regional economy each year.
This potential is why the Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has implemented a roadmap to reach 100% organic waste diversion by 2027, effectively banning organic waste from landfills. Nationally, regulatory shifts, such as GN561 of 2021, which removes licensing requirements for large-scale composting, are making it easier for businesses to adopt sustainable waste management systems.
One of the most promising technologies gaining traction is in-vessel composting, which allows for the treatment of organic waste directly at its source. BiobiN South Africa is among the leaders in this space, offering commercial composting units that turn organic waste into nutrient-rich compost onsite. This not only reduces waste disposal costs but also improves soil health and supports local agriculture, feeding into a circular economy.
“We’re calling on all businesses, restaurants, hotels, corporate campuses, and food manufacturers to take action now,” says Küsel. “Composting is a simple, scalable, and cost-effective way to reduce your environmental footprint and fulfill your corporate social responsibility commitments.”
Consumers, too, have a role to play. Supporting businesses that embrace composting and sustainable waste practices sends a powerful market signal. On an individual level, composting at home and reducing food waste are tangible ways to make a difference.
As World Environment Day reminds us to rethink our relationship with waste, South Africa has an opportunity to lead, not just in reducing plastic pollution, but in transforming how we manage organic waste. The benefits, for our climate, our communities, and our economy, are too significant to ignore. – @NewsSA_Online
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