The City’s Waste Exchange Programme (IWEX) is a free online system that enables waste generators and users to exchange waste materials. IWEX facilitates the re-use of waste between interested parties and aims to contribute to the reduction of recyclable waste in Cape Town’s landfills.
Currently IWEX has 413 registered users and 1 484 contacts have been initiated between these users, proving that it is the ideal platform for recyclers, and has great potential for growth. In terms of waste listings, 46 listings have been made for “Waste Wanted” and 65 listings for “Waste Available” for exchange.
Below is the list of the most available and wanted waste types on the system as of last week:
- Most “Available listed waste”: 9 listings of Plastic/Composite packaging e.g. tetrapak were made, and in addition to 6 listings of Paper/Cardboard, and 5 listings of Glass waste.
- Most “Wanted listed waste”: 11 listings of Plastic/Composite packaging e.g. tetrapak were made, in addition to 10 listings of Paper/Cardboard, 6 listings of E-waste and 6 listings of Wood.
An example of this win-win opportunity is recounted by Ria Bom, a facilities manager at the international law firm of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, in Cape Town. “…when I came across the IWEX website I was astonished to find I could connect with recycling companies for our waste. We use a number of plastic milk bottles per day, which we would otherwise throw away. I made a transaction on IWEX, around July 2010 and Westek (a plastics recycler based in Cape Town) came forth. We arranged that fortnightly they come and collect the plastic bottles – currently we have a designated area at our building where we store the plastic bottles.”
The company goes through about 50 plastic milk bottles per day. This all adds up to about 12 000 bottles per year that the company diverts from Cape Town’s landfills. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s is committed to recycling, as the various aspects of their effort show:
- Confidential shredding
All paper considered sensitive or confidential is shredded on-site (by a paper shredding company known as ClearData). Since January 2010 the Cape Town office has shredded 20 tonnes of paper, which saved 86 cubic metres of landfill. The shredded paper is recycled and pulped for new paper production. This saves nearly 390 trees from being chopped down. - Newspapers
Newspapers are collected in collection boxes on each floor. They are given to a group for fund raising to aid disadvantaged individuals. - Plastic bottles
Empty plastic milk bottles are collected in kitchens daily.
Thanks to IWEX, once a fortnight these bottles are collected by Westek for the production of resin-based roof tiles for the construction industry. - Soft drink cans
Empty soft drink cans are collected once a month by Collect-A-Can, a recycling-for-cash organisation. - Ink cartridges and toners
Used ink cartridges are collected by Green Office, a recycling-for-cash organisation. All funds from the recycling of cans and cartridges go to the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility beneficiary – a crèche in Delft. - Used batteries
Used batteries, including rechargeable batteries from cellphones, MP3 players and laptops (both from the office and staff members’ homes) are collected in a collection “vase”. They are responsibly disposed of via a recycling depot.
The advantages of using IWEX are:
- IWEX can turn fixed costs for waste storage, transport and disposal into savings.
- IWEX can give your company a competitive edge in the sustainable usage of resources.
- IWEX can unlock a market for your company’s unwanted materials.
- IWEX can help you locate alternative material suppliers that offer the perfect input material for your business, at a competitive price, thereby lowering your raw materials or input costs.
- IWEX can improve your company’s environmental and social responsibility image.
A general survey of IWEX was carried out recently, by contacting IWEX users telephonically. Most users indicated that the site is user-friendly and useful in promoting waste exchange for recycling and waste re-use purposes. They further praised the City for re-launching IWEX in 2008 to stimulate waste recycling.
To become part of the IWEX business community, register online at www.capetown.gov.za/iwex Locally based businesses/NGOs are invited to post waste items on the site, which can be traded with any buyer worldwide. Through active waste trading you can help your business save material, packaging and waste costs, reduce the generation of waste and minimise the impact and effects on the environment.
