Weekly Newsletter on Circular Waste Management in Africa and OECD countries #45-2024

South Africa

·?????? The Norwegian Embassy has co-funded a study on the feasibility, cost and impact of a mandatory single-use beverage Deposit Return System in South Africa. In Norway more than 92 percent of bottles are recycled through a deposit return system. According to the new study it would be possible to see similar results in South Africa by using a system specifically designed for South African circumstances. The study finds that: The collection rates for beverage containers could be as high as 90 %, with a particular increase for plastic bottles and glass bottles. An additional 305 to 477 kiloton of beverage containers would be recycled annually.?? Greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced with between 119 and 294 thousand tons Co2 per year. A deposit return system could also have great social impact, creating new jobs and increased income. The study recognises that South Africa’s specific circumstances result in uncertainty and risks in some of the aspects of DRS design and in the outcomes that are likely to be achieved. Further work, particularly through practical and operational trials and pilots of the DRS concepts would be necessary to reduce the uncertainties and risks. More to read: https://kikapu.uwc.ac.za/articles/presentation/Researching_a_Deposit_Return_System_for_South_Africa/27324927/4

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·?????? Expanding on this effort, the City of Cape Town is developing a new multi-million-rand MRF at Coastal Park landfill near Muizenberg. This facility will act as a central sorting hub, supporting the City’s Think Twice program, which will soon serve an additional 27 000 households from Constantia to Wynberg. More to read: Cape Town’s commitment to recycling: how plastic waste comes full circle

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·?????? Plastics industry urges re-evaluation of South Africa's On-Pack Recycling Labels (OPRLs). The implementation of On-Pack Recycling Labels (OPRLs)?was envisioned as a pivotal move to enhance consumer comprehension of?packaging?recyclability. Introduced in 2019 with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), these guidelines aimed to deliver uniform, clear instructions on managing packaging waste. Plastic SA is raising concerns over certain aspects of the guidelines, especially the 30% threshold set to classify recyclability. She highlights that many recyclable products?in South Africa?fall below this cut-off, cautioning that advising consumers against recycling these items undermines the recycling industry, leads to consumer confusion, and prevents valuable materials from reaching recyclers. While the original intention of OPRLs was to simplify recycling for consumers and increase recycling rates, this has not always been the outcome. Pretorius questions the effectiveness of the labels in engaging consumers.? Plastic SA is clear: if it’s plastic, rinse it and recycle it. More to read: https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/plastics-industry-urges-reevalution-of-south-africas-on-pack-recycling-labels-oprls-2024-11-05

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·?????? Tetra Pak Southern Africa?aims to achieve a 40% nationwide recycling rate for its liquid board packaging?(LBP) products?by 2030, ?The company is currently the only principal LBP producer in South Africa involved in recycling LBP through partnerships with recyclers Gayatri Paper?Mill, Mpact Recycling?Paper?Mill, as well as with PRO Petco and recycled?products?producer Infinity Industry. The company measured an LBP recycling rate of 4% in 2022, doubling that figure to 8% in 2023, which then tripled this year. The company has invested into the collection and processing aspects of the domestic recycling industry. Infinite Industries transforms recycled materials into?products such as plastic?roofing?sheets, laptop stands,?cable?protection, furniture, beehives and?housing?materials. More to read: ?https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/tetra-pak-on-track-to-achieve-a-40-recycling-rate-for-its-products-by-2030-2024-11-08 . In comparison, the recycling rate will be 70 % in Europe (https://www.packagingdive.com/news/tetrapak-esg-2022-plant-based-packaging-recycling/652269/#:~:text=Tetra%20Pak%20is%20working%20to%20achieve%20a%2070%25,30%20million%20euros%20it%20reported%20spending%20in%202022 .)

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France

·?????? In 2020, nearly 13 million tons of packaging waste were generated across packaging, of which nearly 61% of this waste, or 8 million tons, was professional packaging. While the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime has applied in France since 1992 to household packaging, the law on the fight against waste and the circular economy, in line with the European Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, which requires the implementation, in all Member States, of an extended producer responsibility regime for all packaging by 1 January 2025, extended the principle of extended producer responsibility to packaging "used to market products consumed or used by professionals" and which is not already covered by the EPR for household packaging. The implementation of this new EPR sector was planned in two stages: On 1 January 2023, for packaging "consumed or used by professionals with a catering activity" for which the Citeo PRO was approved recently and on January 1, 2025 for other professional packaging. More to read: https://www.consultations-publiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/projet-de-decret-relatif-aux-emballages-et-dechets-a3079.html?lang=fr

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·?????? The government has made public the amount of the “plastic contribution” it pays to the European Union budget. For the second year in a row, France is first in terms of the amount paid (nearly €1.5 billion), ahead of Germany (€1.378 billion) and far ahead of Italy (€768 million) and Spain (€655 million; see graphs on the next page). However, if we reduce the amount paid to the number of inhabitants, France (€21.90 per inhabitant) is in fourth position behind Ireland (€40.61), Sweden (€23.12) and Denmark (€22.81), significantly above the European average (€15.89).. More to read?: https://dechets-infos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/newsletter_pdf/Dechets-Infos-284-56DqHhR3a.pdf

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·?????? Webinar on Measuring and Reducing the Plastic Footprint. More to read: https://www.cycl-op.org/articles/h/mesurer-et-reduire-l-empreinte-plastique.html?from-notification=20241108

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?EU & Other countries

·?????? Fashion for Good Launches New Digital Tool: World of Waste. information on textile waste is currently fragmented, with data scattered across a multitude of organizations and platforms. This lack of centralized knowledge and standardized data hampers the industry’s ability to address and capitalize on textile waste. To tackle this issue, Fashion for Good, with catalytic funding from Laudes Foundation and IDH, has partnered with Reverse Resources, Global Fashion Agenda, Circle Economy, and Accelerating Circularity – who actively address many facets of textile waste and leverage each other’s diverse skill sets and wealth of information to create a tool consolidating the outcomes of individual research. This tool provides an overview of data points on waste quantities, types, compositions, and other insights, as well as links to the original studies. More to read: https://fashionforgood.com/

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·?????? OPINION: ‘Recession hits the EU’s plastics recycling industry’: President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, warns that the EU plastics recycling industry is at “a crossroads” and calls for an EU-led incentive scheme to boost investment into the industry. The downward trend in the European plastics recycling market is alarming. The increasing lack of demand for recyclates produced in Europe, the reduced investments in domestic recycling, and the increase in imports?of recyclates from outside the EU have been suffocating the European plastics recycling industry in the last few years. These issues are feeding the existing recession on the market - driving many recycling companies out of business in 2023, with further closures happening or planned in the course of 2024. To answer this situation, it will be important to restrict market entry for imports that fail to meet the EU’s environmental requirements, as recommended in the report on EU Competitiveness authored by Mario Draghi. Creating a level playing field will be key to making the green transition sustainable and safeguarding the competitiveness of the EU’s industry in the long run. The measures and targets introduced in the core pieces of EU legislation must now be enforced urgently and effectively. However, given the stalling growth of the industry, achieving these targets is currently unrealistic, as capacities would need to at least double by 2030. Plastics Recyclers Europe urges European Institutions to act now and create a genuine circular single market for plastic waste and recycling. More to read: https://www.plasticsrecyclers.eu/news/recession-hits-the-eus-plastics-recycling-industry-8ja84r/

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·?????? Comparison Table of Elements of the Future Plastic Treaty by: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/andresdelcastillo_comparison-table-ciel-activity-7258923877030838273-l4b5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

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·?????? The UK Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. More to read: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348264654/contents

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·?????? Phuket City Municipality convened its inaugural public gathering last week to discuss the construction of a new incinerator for solid waste disposal facility. The proposed scheme involves EA Waste Management Phuket Co Ltd, a private company, developing and managing the new facility. Covering nearly 15 rai (24,000 square metres), the new site is expected to hold a daily capacity of no less than 500 tons of solid waste, while generating 9.9 megawatts of electrical power. More to read: https://thailand-construction.com/phuket-addresses-waste-issue-with-new-incinerator-construction/

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·?????? Starbucks Tests Fiber-Based Cold Cups, McDonald's McCafé Compostable Espresso Capsules, 4 RE CBD Skincare in Mycelium Packaging. More to read: https://www.packworld.com/sustainable-packaging/bio-based/article/22922941/thepackhub-starbucks-mcdonalds-and-4-re-introduce-biobased-and-compostable-packaging-solutions

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·?????? The ECESP Leadership Group on Textiles invites you to participate in the #EUCircularTalks event on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive: Enhancing textiles EPR schemes through inclusive governance. Panelists will discuss key evidence concerning how best to align waste management practices with sustainability goals. This webinar will take a closer look at the proposed changes to EPR schemes for textiles and highlight the role of inclusive governance in meeting the sustainability targets. More to read: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/eu-circular-talks

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·?????? Beyond recycling Beyond Recycling - A strategy to make the circular economy in Wales a reality. This strategic plan is about making the circular economy in Wales a reality.? The Welsh Government set out their commitment to use the powers and levers available to them to?accelerate the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy. Wales is already doing well in terms of recycling, but further efforts are needed. The strategy recognises that resource use is key, and states that a circular economy is?a critical element of a green and just recovery because it will reduce consumption and prevent waste. The strategy lists 8 headline actions for delivering a circular economy in Wales, from helping Welsh businesses reduce their carbon footprint by becoming more resource efficient to phasing out unnecessary single-use items, especially plastic. More to read: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/strategies/beyond-recycling-strategy-make-circular-economy-wales-reality#msdynttrid=YQhqM34RRPwrpkqrk_5_WXn6F8jWBK0iovlOh2qYH8A

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·?????? Circular Construction & Housing in Sub-Saharan Africa case studies and replicability in the region: Interesting knowledge exchange platform at World Urban Forum 2024 with the presentation of the CiCoSA, an online action tool kits, which includes research product, policy recommendations and good practices and implementation guide, on waste wise approaches to sustainable building and construction in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya and Namibia are selected on the tool kit due to the importance of affordable housing, including SBC, on the national agenda and the engagement of UN-Habitat with these countries. More to read: https://wuf.unhabitat.org/event/wuf12/circular-construction-housing-sub-saharan-africa-case-studies-and-replicability-region and https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/CiCoSA_Implementation_Guide_2024.pdf

·?????? The OECD is currently conducting research on how fees are actually paid, particularly in relation to food packaging. However, some of the lessons learned from this research will likely be applicable across various product sectors. Eventually there will be differences between where the fee is levied and who ultimately bears the cost, which is similar to the concept of taxation. Regardless of who is taxed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the tax burden falls on the individual or firm being taxed. Additionally, the way Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems are structured will significantly influence this dynamic. More to listen: ?GAP for EPR | Exploring Extended Producer Responsibility for the Construction Sector. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsS6GYjdkDM And https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/new-aspects-of-epr-extending-producer-responsibility-to-additional-product-groups-and-challenges-throughout-the-product-lifecycle_cfdc1bdc-en

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·India Notifies Draft EPR Rules for Construction & Demolition Waste. India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the latest?draft “Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2024”?on July 31, 2024, which supersedes the 2016 rules, and is seeking comments for 60 days. The draft has stipulated?Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR)?for producers, which are waste generators registered on the portal for a building or building complex project having built-up area of 20,000 m2 and above. Producers are obligated to recycle and reuse the construction and demolition wastes generated, while non-compliances shall be subject to environmental compensations. More to read: https://enviliance.com/regions/south-asia/in/report_12393#:~:text=India%20Notifies%20Draft%20EPR%20Rules%20for%20Construction%20%26,4.%20EPR%20Obligations%20...%205%205.%20Reporting%20

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·?????? Neste, Alterra, Technip Energies to create ‘copy-paste solution’ for chemical recycling plants. The partners aim to globally offer a standardized modular solution, based on Alterra’s proprietary discarded plastic liquefaction technology, to parties interested in building capacity for chemical recycling. Alterra and Neste will serve as technology providers, Technip Energies to design, engineer and deliver standardized plant solutions. Neste, Alterra and Technip Energies have signed a collaboration agreement to advance the circularity of plastics by providing the industry a standardized technology solution for chemical recycling, also referred to as “advanced recycling”. The partners aim to globally offer a standardized modular solution, based on Alterra’s proprietary liquefaction technology, to parties interested in building capacity for chemical recycling. This solution will come in the form of readily designed and engineered liquefaction plant modules, which will allow for lower pre-investment costs, accelerated implementation time, high predictability on project economics and reduced overall capital costs. Contributing to more effective execution of chemical recycling capacity projects, the solution helps the industry to reduce dependency on virgin fossil resources and accelerate the circularity of polymers and chemicals. More to read: https://www.neste.com/news/neste-alterra-and-technip-energies-collaborate-to-offer-standardized-solution-to-build-chemical-recycling-plants

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·?????? Global Action Partnership for EPR: Advancing EPR jointly – this is our mission. As the Global Action Partnership for EPR, we connect practitioners and experts worldwide, foster collaboration, and innovate EPR implementation and research. Upcoming Event: 13.11.2024. PROs around the Globe | Exploring Chile PRO-Resimple – From Regulation to Action. More to read: https://gap-epr.prevent-waste.net/

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·?????? Africa is the fastest-growing region in the world. Unfortunately, current construction in Africa is highly dependent on imported construction materials with high negative environmental impacts. The new SBC publication ‘Unlocking the Potential of Local Circular Materials in Urbanizing Africa’?and video present a building concept for high-density neighborhoods that promotes the use of responsibly sourced local materials. More to read: In South Africa, construction waste is estimated to constitute about 20% of all solid waste yet. However, only about 16% of this is recycled (Department of Environmental Affairs, 2012). More to read: https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/news-and-events/news/unlocking-potential-local-circular-materials-urbanising-africa

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·?????? Scottish university innovation stands out in the fight against plastic pollution and sustainable development. Ingenious start-ups are offering innovative solutions to meet current environmental challenges. For example, the start-up EVA Biosystems, which spun out of the University of Edinburgh, has developed a smart plastic capable of self-degrading in an ocean environment without generating microplastics. This innovation was recognised at the Converge Awards, an annual event celebrating Scottish academic innovation. More to read: https://enviropro-salon.com/fr-fr/douai/actualites-Du-plastique-qui-s-autodetruit-l-arme-ecossaise-contre-la-pollution

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·?????? Mass balanced materials to count as recycled content in UK. Move aims to promote a circular economy for packaging recycling. More to read: https://www.sustainableplastics.com/news/mass-balanced-materials-count-recycled-content-uk

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·?????? GAP for EPR and Green Tech Knowledge Hub Team Up for New Webinar Series ‘PROs around the Globe’ Between October 30 and December 11. Presentation of the PRO for packaging in Kenya. More to read: https://greentechknowledgehub.de/sites/default/files/2024-11/PROs%20around%20the%20globe_PAKPRO%20.pdf

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