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Facilitators

Merrisa Naidoo

Africa Plastics Campaigner (GAIA/BFFP)

Andrea Dixon

Africa Programs Associate (GAIA/BFFP)

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Rappels pour la session:

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Over the last few years into the plastics treaty, the concept of recycling has been a contentious one even though there is a general consensus on the narrative of “recycling is not enough” - despite that, recycling is still a critical part of zero waste systems along with the inclusion of the informal sector.
GAIA Africa is therefore taking the opportunity this Global Recycling Day, to spotlight the realities of recycling and waste management across the continent

Purpose of Today

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Group Photo

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Speakers

Katie Drews

Co-President & CEO (Eureka Recycling), National Director (AMBR)

Ntombi Lefuthane

Waste Picker & Coordinating Committee Member (SAWPA)

Weyinmi Okotie

Africa Clean Air Campaigner (GAIA/BFFP)

Neil Tangri

Science and Policy Director (GAIA Global)

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Speakers

Johnson Doe

Waste Picker, Co-Chair (GH -NPAP) & Officer (Africa Regional Executive Council of the IAWP

Doun Moon

Policy and Research Officer (GAIA Global)

Asiphile Khanyile

UMI Waste Project Campaigner (groundWork)

Farima Tidjani

Industrial Engineer & Coordinator (adonsonia.green), Africa Reuse Campaigner (GAIA/ BFFP)

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Katie Drews

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Heading

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Text

Subtitle

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Text

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Ntombi Lefuthane

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Heading

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Subtitle

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Subtitle

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SOUTH AFRICAN WASTE PICKERS ASSOCIATION�

GAIA Global Recycling Day Webinar

Plastic Recycling: The Facts, Fiction and Future.

Ntombi Lefuthane-SAWPA Provincial Coordinating Committee Member

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�SOUTH AFRICAN WASTE PICKERS ASSOCIATION� (SAWPA)

SAWPA was formed in 2009 and has a footprint in all 9 provinces of South Africa.
SAWPA works with males and females from SA and even outside SA.
SAWPA has pushed for waste pickers’ recognition and that’s why SA has the Integration policy recognising waste pickers.
SAWPA organises on the streets, communities as well as landfills.
SAWPA represents waste pickers in national and international negotiations to ensure that waste pickers’ rights and livelihoods are safeguarded.

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Recycling in South Africa-a waste picker’s perspective

Importance of waste pickers

Saving spaces at the landfills,
Mitigating climate change,
Source of employment,
Keeping recycling economy moving.

Challenges

Stigmatisation,
Exploitation,
Risky (dangerous) working conditions,
Evictions,
Mixed waste (unseparated),
Harassment and discrimination,
Lack of awareness about who and how waste pickers work.
Toxins in waste

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Threats

The Global Plastics Treaty and Waste Pickers

How to foster just transition

Reduction of the impacts of toxins along the value chain
Gender equity-taken into consideration (from a waste pickers experience)
Recognition, inclusion, representation of waste pickers in decision-making spaces in the treaty
Support for organizing and formalizing waste pickers
Safeguarding the livelihoods of waste pickers

Waste Pickers vs Waste to Energy

Waste to energy threatens and destroys the livelihoods of waste pickers,
Further accelerates climate change, e.g incineration,
Very expensive and unstainable,
Disrupts the waste management value chain,

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Recognition

Recognition means’

inclusion of waste pickers in policy making and decision-making spaces
Improving the working conditions- MRF’s in local municipalities and assisting with PPE.
Build on what exists such as waste pickers’ knowledge and expertise,
Payment of services done by waste pickers
Documenting the number of waste pickers in South Africa,
Growing our movement as organized waste pickers in South Africa.

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Zero waste is the solution

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�� Thank you!��For more information�contact:�Ntombi Lufuthane- ntombigrangxa304@gmail.com �SAWPA website�https://wastepickers.org.za/��

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Weyinmi Okotie

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Beyond the Hype: Advanced Recycling

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BACKGROUND

Unsustainable Waste Management Methods

Misleading Market Based Approaches/ Greenwashing

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Waste-to-Energy as a concept �different pathway to recover energy from waste

Fig 2: Thermal “waste-to-energy”

Incinerators / gasifier / pyrolysis / plasma arch

Fig 1: Biological “waste-to-energy”

biodigesters or anaerobic digesters

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WASTE-TO-ENERGY INCINERATION

Environmental Impacts

Accelerates Climate Change

Health Impacts

Financial Impact

Social Impact

Competes with and undermines recycling and waste reduction efforts

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The Reppie Waste-to-Energy Incinerator (Addis Ababa)

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Emerging Waste-to-Energy Incinerator Proposals/ Projects in Africa

Figure : showing the trend of presence of WtE Incinerators in Africa (a) Showing the absence of WtE Incinerators in Africa (b) Showing the presence of Incineration facilities and proposals in Africa

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Emissions from Incinerators

Burning waste releases:

GHG + toxins + nanoparticles

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CO₂ + H₂O

_ACID GASES_

HCI, HF, SO₂, NOx

_TOXIC METALS_

Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc

_POPs_

PCDDs (DIOXINS)

PCDFs (FURANS)

PCB’s etc

NANO

PARTICLES

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CHEMICAL RECYCLING

Unproven technology
Not climate-friendly
Toxic hazard
Competes with and undermines mechanical recycling and waste reduction efforts

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Reduce production of single use items such as SUPs

Segregation of waste at source

Encouraging alternative service delivery models

Supporting recycling and ensure informal waste picker inclusion

Avoiding false solutions which divert attention, energy and resources from the true solutions listed above

Real Solutions (Zero waste)

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Neil Tangri

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Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

Plastic Credits

An Introduction

18 March 2025

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What are plastic credits?

Tradable certificates
1 credit = 1 tonne plastic collected or recycled (usually)
Credits are bought and sold
Creates a market in responsibility for plastic pollution

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How do they work?

Project Developer

Standards Agency

Consultant

Project Implementation

Buyer

Methodology

Evaluation

$$

Project finance

Validation

Credits

$$$

Data

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Who benefits?

Project Developer $$$

Consultants $$$

NGO/Waste pickers (a little)

Standards Agency

Brand name companies

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Who is harmed?

Communities near cement kilns

Waste pickers

Environmental consumers

Accountability

??????

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What are other problems?

Inconsistent, low standards for plastic credits

Undermine the waste hierarchy

Lack of additionality

All plastic is not the same

Non-permanent removal

Unreliable source of finance

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What comes next?

Incorporating plastic credits into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

Legitimizing waste colonialism

Financial mechanism for the treaty

Lessons from the carbon markets:

Doesn’t deliver sufficient funds
Public has no oversight
Public does not receive funds
Only profitable activities are funded
Industry & consumers escape responsibility

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Thank you for joining us!

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Johnson Doe

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GLOBAL RECYCLING DAY UNPACKING PLASTICS FACTS, FICTION AND FUTURE

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FACTS�

Here are some key important facts to highlight on false solutions for managing plastic recycling.
Greenwashing ….this involves false or exaggerated environmental claims about products, this can lead consumers to believe they are supporting sustainable practices or project
Chemical recycling……also known as advance recycling , involves breaking down plastics into their chemical components. Its still infancy and may not be a viable solution for all types of plastics.
Exporting waste…….exporting waste other countries often under guise of recycling can lead to environmental and health problems to the receiving country.
Recycling symbols…. This symbols do not always guarantee that product can be recycled the use of recycling symbols on products ca be mis.
Wishcycling…..this refers to a practice of placing non recyclable materials in recycle bins hoping they will be recycled .
Biodegradable plastics

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FICTION

While recycling is an essential practice of reducing waste and conserving natural resources, there is a need to understand the different types of plastics , their uses and challenges associated with their disposal.
Some of these impacts of plastics affects the vulnerable populations , indigenous people and waste picker community at large.
FUTURE……implementing inclusive and mandatory EPR systems can be a tangible solutions.
Reducing the production of single use plastics.
Introduce legit recycling programs.
Understanding what can be recycled.
Engaging the key stakeholders in the waste sector( waste pickers).

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Doun Moon

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Key elements for successful Extended Producer Producer (EPR) schemes

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What is EPR?

An expression of polluter pays principle

It is a policy tool, not a principle

It shifts the cost of waste management of and pollution

It incentivize eco-design

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The devil is in the detail

Whether or not �EPR schemes deliver on these aims all depends on their setup and implementation details.

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EPR principles vs realities

Financial aspects

Environmental aspects

NOT fully covering all end-of-life costs

NO lifecycle approach

Lacking social, human or health costs

NOT efficient for waste prevention

Weak influence on design choices

So far, existing EPR schemes have had mixed results:

From a financial point of view, existing EPR schemes do provide actual funding for waste management. Nevertheless, not all end-of-life costs are yet fully covered by EPR schemes, especially for plastic: for example, the cost of microplastics pollution is not taken into account. What is even more problematic is that current EPR does not cover environmental impacts throughout the entire lifecycle of products or packaging. Neither do they include social, human or health costs.
From an environmental point of view, EPR has contributed to improve waste collection and sorting, and in some cases, recycling. But existing EPR schemes remain mostly inefficient in terms of waste prevention, or general reduction of the use of plastic; the incentives are not strong enough to actually influence the design choices made by the producers, and EPR does not tackle the central question of the quantity of (single-use) plastic products put on the market.

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Case studies

Philippines

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, or Republic Act No. 11898 �

Focuses on waste recovery, including collection drop-off points, coastal clean-ups, and establishing recycling, compositing, thermal treatment, and other waste facilities.
Lacks preventive measures

France

2020 Anti-Waste Law for Green Growth �and more�

EPR for household packaging was established already in 1992
Total EPR fees collected (€1.8 billion) is not enough to cover the public spendings on waste management (€9.9 billion per year)
Designed as a tool for financing and to develop recycling, and has extremely limited impact on prevention

France

EPR schemes are particularly well-established, total EPR fees for all schemes combined amounted to 1.8 billion euros in 2021, of which 835 million were allocated to local government. 3 These are significant amounts, but they do not cover the total cost of waste management borne by public authorities, which amounts to 9.9 billion euros per year. 4 This is due to the fact that not all waste streams are covered by EPR, but also by the failure to reach cost-coverage goals in existing EPR schemes.

PH EPR Act of 2022 (Internal reference)

• Sachets, labels, laminates, and other flexible plastic packaging products, whether single-layer or multi-layered with plastics or other materials, Rigid plastic packaging products, Plastic bags.

The law’s emphasis is only waste recovery which includes, among others, buying back material or waste from consumers; putting up collection points where the material or waste can be dropped off after consumption then collected for reuse or recycling; cleaning up of waste from coastal areas, public roads, other places; and establishing recycling, compositing, thermal treatment, and other waste diversion or disposal facilities.

Ownership & governance

Waste prevention �Inclusion of reuse and recycling players

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Summary: Key elements for successful EPR schemes

Be mandatory rather than voluntary

Have government representatives and oversight in their governing bodies, as well as key stakeholders including waste pickers and other grassroots groups

Have eco-modulation amounts high enough to be effective (e.g. dissuasive penalties)

Cover the full cost of plastic waste management

Prioritize reduction over recycling, in line with the zero waste hierarchy

Adequately integrate and fairly compensate waste pickers

be mandatory rather than voluntary;
have government representatives and oversight in their governing bodies, as well as key stakeholders including waste pickers, recycling and reuse operators, environmental and civil society organizations, and municipalities, and make their decisions and data transparent;
have eco-modulation amounts high enough to be effective (e.g. dissuasive penalties) cover the full cost of plastic waste management, including the management of residual waste fractions, rather than focusing only on recycling streams;
prioritize reduction and reuse over recycling, in line with the zero waste hierarchy
adequately integrate and fairly compensate waste pickers.

They incentivize collection and downstream measures, not upstream. WPs have been excluded, sidelined in many EPR schemes.

This is what we think that will constitute a good EPR but we haven’t seen it in reality. We don’t have successful examples to point to.

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Asiphile Khanyisile

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�

GAIA Global Recycling Day Webinar

Plastic Recycling: The Facts, Fiction and Future.

Waste picker organising at the Heart of Change and Zero Waste

Asiphile Khanyile

UMI Zero Waste Project Campaigner

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Waste Picker Integration

Inclusion,
Partnering,
Collaboration,
Building on what exists, Improvement of waste pickers working conditions

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Zero waste

6Rs of a regenerative economy

Resist
Reduce
Re-use
Recycle
Repurpose
Residual- (where do they come from?)

What is Zero waste?

Zero Waste International Alliance

“Zero Waste is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning, and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.” (ZWIA, 2018).

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Waste Picker Integration Strategies

S@S-demonstration

Registration-data

Waste audits

Awareness

Fighting for the protection of waste pickers livelihoods

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THANK YOU!

Asiphile Khanyile

Email- asiphile@groundwork.org.za

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Farima Tidjani

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The Reuse & Refill Landscape in Africa

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C’est moi!

Farima Tidjani

Program Lead for Reuse at GAIA Africa
Facilitator for the BFFP/GAIA Africa Reuse Working Group
Coordinator of the Senegalese organization adansonia.green

Reuse advocacy & system development
Organic waste management & composting
Brand audits & plastic pollution analysis

How to engage? Join the Reuse Working Group: farima@no-burn.org

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Direct reuse of products, components, or materials in their original form without major transformation

Not Refurbishing > Restoration or repair to bring the product back to working condition
Not Recycling > Transformation of materials to create new products

🎯 Prevent waste production by maximizing the use of existing resources�

Advantages

Reduces the consumption of new resources
Decreases waste and emissions
Extends the lifespan of products

What is reuse?

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Reuse is already embedded in African daily practices

Local markets
Refillable cooking oil containers
Reused glass containers
Fabric shopping bags
Refillable gas bottles
Returnable soda bottles

Contextualizing projects

To scale reuse, we must adapt solutions to existing practices, rather than copying Global North models

Reuse in Africa today

(and yesterday :)

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Emerging initiatives

Refill stations for water
Milk ATM
Reusable water bottles
Refill station for local cereals in supermarkets
Returnable containers for personal care and household products
Bring your Own TakeAway Container discount at restaurants
Reusable straws from local materials
Plastic free grocery stores

Example of GAIA Africa-supported pilot

Organizing street coffee sellers for reusable coffee cups

Ongoing Reuse & Refill Projects in Africa

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Why is it difficult to set up these projects?

Change of habits to move towards the lifestyle of developed countries
Very expensive to set up for solo projects
Complicated logistics for both end-user and vendor

Global Deposit and Return System https://globaldrsplatform.net/

Lack of funding and investment
Inadequate or absent regulations on reuse
Influence of the plastics industry hindering reuse solutions
Limited infrastructure

Logistics
Washing
Standardization

Challenges

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"Reuse systems are accessible, affordable, and make people’s lives easier"

Key principles (https://reusesolutions.org/)

Inclusive – Accessible, affordable, and equitable
Accountable – Community-led, regulated, and supported by governments & businesses
System-based – More than just products; it requires an entire ecosystem (multiactors)
Context-specific – Adapted to local cultures and economies

Our Vision

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of a Strong Reuse System

Proper system infrastructure is in place
Governance of systems is community-led
Comprehensive, legally binding policy frameworks
Investments create economic benefits, incentives, and new economic systems that promote reuse
Economic viability
Avoid false solutions
Ensures justice and a just transition

Indicators

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Adapting Reuse Systems to African Lifestyles

Avoid copying models from the Global North – every project should be tailored to the local context
Build on existing habits and practices in Africa to develop reuse projects
Reuse systems must be affordable and simple for the end-user
Systemic and multiactors
Integrate waste pickers into the logistics of these systems to ensure a just transition

Formalizing their role in collection, cleaning, and redistribution will ensure a just transition.

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Q & A with speakers

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Closing remarks

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Thank you for joining and let’s continue to connect

merrisa@no-burn.org Or andi@no-burn.org

@africaforzerowaste

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HTUYebpVK/