Western Cape urges residents to view waste as a resource on Global Recycling Day
Western Cape urges residents to recycle and reduce waste as landfill pressure grows.
Image: Thobile Mathonsi/Independent Newspapers Archives
As the Western Cape marks Global Recycling Day on March 18, provincial officials are calling on residents and businesses to treat waste as a resource, not rubbish, as pressure on landfills and the environment continues to grow.
The Western Cape Government says rising population growth and consumption are making effective waste management increasingly urgent, with recycling seen as key to conserving natural resources and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill.
Materials such as paper, plastics, glass, metals and organic waste can be recovered and reused, helping to extend landfill airspace while supporting a growing recycling economy, particularly among small businesses and informal waste pickers.
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said the day is an opportunity to shift how people think about waste.
“Global Recycling Day reminds us that waste is not simply something to discard. Many of the materials we throw away still have value and can be recovered and reused. By strengthening recycling practices and improving how we manage waste, we can protect our natural resources while supporting economic opportunities within the recycling sector,” Bredell said.
The province said it is working with municipalities, industry and communities to improve waste systems, expand recycling initiatives and promote separation at source.
Head of Department for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Gerhard Gerber said partnerships are central to improving outcomes.
“The Western Cape continues to prioritise initiatives that reduce waste to landfill and improve recycling across the province. Through partnerships with municipalities, businesses, Producer Responsibility Organisations and communities, we are working to strengthen waste management systems that support both environmental sustainability and long-term economic resilience,” Gerber said.
Director for Waste Management Saliem Haider said individual behaviour remains critical to success.
“Recycling begins with everyday choices. By separating waste or composting at home, reducing what we throw away and supporting local recycling programmes, residents can help reduce pressure on landfill sites and ensure valuable resources remain in use within the economy. The role of waste pickers cannot be underestimated as they play a key role in ensuring that diversion happens and it is for this reason that waste picker integration is essential in the system approach,” Haider said.