As World Environment Day on June 5, 2025, once again spotlights plastic pollution and microplastics, a pressing call emerges from the waste management sector in South Africa to critically re-evaluate another pervasive environmental challenge: food and organic waste. While plastic pollution is undeniably important, the escalating crisis presented by organic waste in South African landfills demands equal, if not greater, attention.
“Each year, millions of tonnes of organic waste are needlessly sent to our already overflowing landfills,” says Brian Küsel, Director of BiobiN South Africa. “This isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a ticking environmental and social time bomb. By prioritising organic waste diversion, we address a multitude of interconnected problems that are crucial for South Africa’s waste sector.”
Prioritising the diversion of food and organic waste from landfills directly tackles several pressing issues:
Landfill Pressure: South Africa’s landfills are rapidly reaching capacity, with many municipalities in the Western Cape having less than five years of airspace remaining. Organic waste, comprising a significant portion of municipal solid waste, takes up valuable landfill space, accelerating this critical shortage and the need for costly new landfill sites, which can also take years to license.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Air Quality, and Global Warming: When organic waste breaks down, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in its short-term warming effect. The waste sector alone is responsible for 10-11% of city-wide greenhouse gas emissions in Cape Town. Diverting organics is an absolute priority for localised climate action.
Water Pollution: Landfills generate leachate, a toxic liquid waste formed when water seeps through waste. This leachate, heavily contaminated by decaying organic matter, poses a severe threat to groundwater and surface water sources, impacting ecosystems and human health. Landfill liners have been known to fail, resulting in many instances of groundwater pollution.
Impact on Wildlife and Food Chains: The decomposition of organic waste attracts pests and scavengers, often leading to disruptions in wildlife habitats and natural food chains. Consuming contaminated materials can also harm animals, with toxins entering the broader ecosystem.
Social Impact – Access to Food: The sheer volume of edible food being wasted in South Africa is a stark contrast to the country’s persistent hunger statistics. Of the 22.8 million tonnes of food produced or imported annually in South Africa, roughly 10.3 million tonnes are never consumed. This means 45% of the available food supply is lost or wasted, highlighting a systemic inefficiency that could otherwise alleviate some of South Africa’s food insecurity.
Viewing organic waste as a valuable resource, rather than a discard, unlocks immense opportunities. If all urban-related organic waste in the Western Cape (estimated between 759,000 to 868,260 tonnes in 2020) were beneficiated, the value-add potential for the Cape Town economy alone could range from an estimated R16.7 million to R3.2 billion per year.
The regulatory landscape in South Africa is increasingly tightening around organic waste disposal. The Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has implemented an organic waste diversion plan targeting 100% diversion by 2027. This impending landfill restriction serves as a significant incentive for businesses to adopt waste beneficiation technologies. Thanks to national standards (GN561 of 2021), facilities composting over 10 tonnes of organic waste daily no longer need a waste management license, simplifying the process for on-site composting.
Solutions such as commercial in-vessel composting units are proving to be pivotal in managing organic waste directly at its source, transforming it into valuable compost. This not only significantly reduces waste disposal costs but also contributes to soil health and local circular economies. BiobiN South Africa offers a versatile and scalable commercial in-vessel composting solution, enabling businesses to transform their organic waste into a valuable resource directly at the source.
“We urge consumers to actively support local businesses that have embraced composting and are actively championing a more sustainable approach to waste,” adds Küsel. “We also implore all businesses, from restaurants and hotels to food manufacturers and corporate campuses, to investigate and implement on-site composting operations. It’s a tangible step towards your corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a smart business decision for a circular economy.”
To find out more, visit www.biobin.co.za