The South African waste economy shows that the potential contribution of waste to gross
domestic product (GDP) is significant if the materials currently being lost to landfills can be
recovered and used. Emphasis on transitioning to the circular economy is therefore crucial to
encourage the minimizing and managing of waste using resource efficiency in the materials
value chain, including in materials flow.
The circular economy transition in South Africa: Untapped opportunities in the waste sector
SWITCH-Africa Green Programme is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.