The City of Cape Town has re-launched IWEX, the free waste exchange system that facilitates the swapping of waste materials on behalf of interested parties, thereby saving costs, reducing waste, and benefitting the environment.

IWEX (Integrated Waste Exchange), which is internet based, allows anyone who wants waste to browse through a waste ‘catalogue’ (list), and contact the person/organisation who has ‘advertised’ the waste to initiate an exchange.

The system, which operates on the principle that ‘one person’s garbage is another person’s gold’ looks set to be very popular, especially in the industrial and commercial sectors. Not only does it allow companies to save costs on waste storage, transport and disposal, it can also unlock new markets. Many companies use waste materials in their manufacturing processes, such as Resin Roof Tiles, which uses the plastic that computer monitors are made from to manufacture South African National Standards (SANS) approved roof tiles. Nampak Tissue uses white waste office paper to make many of the tissue and toilet paper products on our shelves.

Alison Davison, Head: Waste Minimisation says that besides benefitting the environment, the system will also appeal to schools, individuals, NGOs and community groups. Many community projects use waste materials to make saleable products, such as the Clover Mama Africa project, which creates useful items from the fabric off cuts generated by the CapeStorm processing factory.

The IWEX system was initially launched in 2000 to promote recycling, but was not upgraded. Following the approval of the City’s Integrated Waste Management Policy in May 2006, a far stronger focus was placed on waste minimisation measures and the system was subsequently readdressed to improve it.

The new IWEX system, launched in November 2008, boasts more functionality that its predecessor, and will even send automatic reminders to waste exchange customers whenever the type waste they are looking for becomes available, or when someone lists a need for the type of waste they are offering.

IWEX’s greatest benefit is in its potential to reduce pressure on the city’s landfills. Three of these (Brackenfell, Faure and Swartklip) have recently closed and the remaining three (Vissershok, Coastal Park and Bellville South) are filling up fast. Two of these only have space left for less than ten years of waste. Although a new regional landfill has been planned, it is situated over 40km further away than the current sites, and the increased distance will increase waste disposal costs considerably. Over 80% of waste materials generated are currently landfilled, which means that their potential economic value can never be realised. From July 2006 to June 2006, Cape Town disposed of 2.8 million tonnes of waste, and this figure is increasing by over 6% per year. Landfilling waste materials, especially hazardous waste, can contaminate groundwater and the natural environment.

Interested parties need to register, as this is how contact details are recorded and swapped. The online registration form is simple to use and allows for instantaneous registration. Registered parties are then required to log on to the system to post new waste, amend their waste lists or update their details. Registration and logon is free.

IWEX can be accessed via the Services Directory on the City’s internet site, or directly through www.capetown.gov.za/iwex

At present IWEX is only available to people/organisations wanting to ‘advertise’ (list for swapping) waste in Cape Town – people/organisations that want waste may be based anywhere in South Africa.