On 10 March 2023, the City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate hosted an information sharing session between small to medium enterprises (SMMEs) in the waste recycling and beneficiation sector, and Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) that have been set up to assist producers of certain categories of waste, such as paper, packaging, electronic and lighting waste, in meeting their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations.
With the passing of extended producer responsibility, legislation producers of various types of waste are now obligated to take responsibility for the life cycle of the products and through the value chain. This ranges from production to maximising the re-use and recycling of the products or packaging, to the eventual safe waste disposal.
The PRO’s responsibility due to Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) legislation is mandatory. Each PRO must pay a service fee based on the volume they collect. To do this, the tracking system is implemented. Each reclaimer must be registered on the National waste picker registration system to benefit from payment.
In many cases, PROs are using producers’ levy contributions to enable the recycling industry to improve the rate of recycling and increase circularity in the economy.
During the information session, the PROs had the opportunity to meet and network with the SMMEs in the formal and informal sectors. The informal sectors in Cape Town are involved in the waste diversion component like organic waste, collection, sorting and the sale of recyclable waste materials and related activities. The SMMEs explore opportunities for partnerships together with PROs during the session. SMMEs also received insight and guidance on how to put themselves in the best position to benefit from these partnerships in the future. This is intended to be one of many networking and information-sharing opportunities.
‘Given that the City is responsible for the accreditation of all waste management companies, including those dealing with recyclable waste, we are in a good position to help connect PROs to SMMEs to increase waste beneficiation in Cape Town to create a more circular economy.
‘Extended producer responsibility regulations are a great way to ensure that the SMMEs formal and informal sectors who produce products have the potential to be waste compliant. To benefit financially in the sustainable and circular economy of these products the City is committed to supporting the implementation of EPRs wherever we can add value,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management.
The City encourages SMMEs or community organisations, schools, NPOs and NGOs that are involved in the collection, sorting and sale of recyclables, or similar activities, to contact the PROs and explore how they can form partnerships.
