Initiatives such as Clean-up and Recycle SA Week are a great measure to raise awareness on the waste to landfill versus recycling conundrum faced in the country. However, the message needs to be far clearer; that Government, corporate South Africa and individual citizens all have a role to play - and strong focus should be placed on driving collective accountability - if we are to reduce landfilling and increase recycling of waste in the country.

According to Statistics South Africa, the country has an estimated population of 56.5 million, up by 1.61% from 2016. This number is expected to increase to 65.55 million by 2050. When looking at this forecasted growth, it’s critically important that we consider the direct correlation between an increasing population, and waste generation surges, where this not only exists but will have a long-lasting impact if not managed effectively.