THE City of Cape Town is taking significant strides in plastics recycling through the establishment of its materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.https://www.cbn.co.za/industry-news/recycling-waste-management/cape-towns-commitment-to-recycling-how-plastic-waste-comes-full-circle/

The Western Cape is home to two global biodiversity hotspots, the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo, but biodiversity and ecosystem health is declining across the province with about 102,057 hectares of habitat lost over just five years. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-05-state-of-the-environment-report-biodiversity-across-the-western-cape-in-decline/

As technology proliferates today’s society, e-waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world – and South Africa is no exception. https://it-online.co.za/2024/11/06/vodacom-partners-with-circular-energy-to-reduce-e-waste/

South Africa has recently experienced outbreaks of food-borne illnesses that have led to the tragic death of a number of children and numerous hospitalisations across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free.https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/government-investigates-food-borne-illnesses-encourages-food-safety-practices-2024-11-05

Plastic packaging and recycling company ALPLA has opened a new 90 000 m² recycling plant, following an investment of €60-million, in Balito, KwaZulu-Natal. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/alpla-opens-60m-recycling-plant-in-kzn-2024-11-01

Up to 40%* of all landfilled waste takes up unnecessary space, as it is actually both organic and biodegradable. This so-called “organic waste,” which includes food, garden, and agricultural waste, makes up a significant portion of municipal solid https://infrastructurenews.co.za/2024/10/29/how-south-african-municipalities-can-turn-organic-waste-into-a-resource/

Fluoropolymers have become an integral part of modern society, both in industrial and consumer applications. When these high-performance materials reach the end of their useful life, they can end up in both industrial and household waste. https://www.enn.com/articles/75474-no-significant-pfas-emissions-caused-by-waste-incineration

The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it’s happening right now and affecting what matters most to us. Hurricanes intensified by a warming planet and drought-fueled wildfires are destroying our communities. Rising seas and flooding are swallowing our homes. And record-breaking heatwaves are reshaping our way of life.https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/climate-environment-updates/?id=115115959

Carbon offsets used by corporations around the world to lower their reportable greenhouse gas emissions are “ineffectual” and “hindering the energy transition”, according to more than 60 leading climate change scientists.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/28/corporations-using-ineffectual-carbon-offsets-are-slowing-path-to-real-zero-more-than-60-climate-scientists-say

Electronic waste poses considerable risk to people and the environment because it often contains toxic substances such as heavy metals mercury and cadmium. https://www.esi-africa.com/news/improving-e-waste-management-in-south-africa/