{"id":141115,"date":"2019-07-12T08:53:17","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T06:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/world-population-day-2019-population-growth-presents-key-opportunity-to-reinvigorate-the-waste-sector\/"},"modified":"2019-07-12T08:53:17","modified_gmt":"2019-07-12T06:53:17","slug":"world-population-day-2019-population-growth-presents-key-opportunity-to-reinvigorate-the-waste-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/world-population-day-2019-population-growth-presents-key-opportunity-to-reinvigorate-the-waste-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"World Population Day 2019: Population growth presents key opportunity to reinvigorate the waste sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Population Day 2019: Population growth presents key opportunity to reinvigorate the waste sector<\/a>: <\/p>\n

The UN has estimated that the global population will near 11.3 billion by 2060. Populations in Africa are expected to experience just as much exponential growth \u2013 with the continent expected to reach over 2.5 billion by 2050, representing \u2013 quite interestingly – 26% of the world’s total population by that time. But what does this mean for the amount of waste being generated in Africa \u2013 do we have what it takes to manage it effectively and what needs to be done to ensure that we don\u2019t run into a waste crisis?<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no doubt that such growing populations allude to a very serious challenge that threatens future resilience and sustainability, especially in developing regions in Africa, if we don\u2019t change our attitudes to what we consider resources versus waste,\u201d says Kate Stubbs, Director Business Development and Marketing at Interwaste. \u201cWhilst growing figures mean solid opportunities for investors and businesses \u2013 where Africa hosts the fastest growing consumer market in the world but, for the waste sector, it means serious intervention, innovation and management if we hope to see a positive outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

If we consider that the world\u2019s cities generated 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste \u2013 equating to approximately 0.74 kilograms per person per day, and that annual waste generation is expected to increase by 70% from 2016 levels to 3.40 billion tonnes in 2050 \u2013 with its root cause in rapid population growth and urbanisation \u2013 then it\u2019s evident that if we continue on the same waste trajectory and mentality that has driven this sector for many years, we will head towards an unprecedented waste crisis.<\/p>\n

With landfills across the globe already over-capacitated, it is critical for both government and corporate South Africa to implement drastic changes wherever possible to divert waste from landfill and make better use of the waste that is generated.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, when looking at this, we have to decide what the most strategic approach is to best manage both resources and waste and, more importantly, turning waste into a sustainable resource \u2013 creating alternatives from existing waste streams to reduce and reuse,\u201d says Stubbs.<\/p>\n

In Africa today we are witnessing a relatively new but emerging concept that promises to address the challenge of waste in an overpopulated world \u2013 The Circular Economy.<\/p>\n

This model aims to strip out all unnecessary waste materials, energy losses and related carbon emissions across supply chains and \u2013 through innovation \u2013 promotes closing these gaps to allow materials, energy and resources to be \u2018fed\u2019 back into the cycle. It aims towards achieving a more sustainable eco-cycle through long-term design and planning, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, recycling and upcycling.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn a continent that has so much entrepreneurial spirit, as we grow, this model offers significant opportunities to truly deliver on more inclusive economic growth. In fact, through a circular economy we will even start seeing new business streams \u2013 driven by innovative ideas,\u201d continues Stubbs.<\/p>\n

From an industry perspective, we are already starting to witness some strong movement in this direction. Reprocessing industries with a focus on reuse, recycle and repurpose is resulting in businesses taking cognisance of how they make their products sustainably \u2013 either through what they put in, or what can be extracted from their waste.<\/p>\n

Additionally, in cases where recycling and reusing is not possible, there is much innovation in the safe destruction and waste-to-energy space. In fact, waste-to-energy plants for example.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs our populations continue to grow, and grow they must, we must form a critical pillar as waste managers and generators to making a change \u2013 to finding alternative ways to create an economy that is underpinned by useful waste, waste that can be used over and over and waste that has sustainability at its core. It is up to us to change the status quo and make a difference in creating a sustainable future by \u2018giving back to the system\u2019 \u2013 turning a waste crisis into an opportunity,\u201d concludes Stubbs.<\/p>\n

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