Commerce and industry contribute about 25% (industrial waste) and 20% (commercial waste)
to Cape Town’s waste output. To reduce this waste load, the City promotes the formation of Waste Minimisation Clubs (WMCs).
Waste Minimisation Clubs
A WMC is a voluntary partnership which promotes the exchange of experience and information
in the implementation of waste minimisation measures between groups of companies or organisations.
The City funds the introduction and management of WMCs through the following stages:
|
Stages of the WMC
|
Actors (who is involved) |
Length of time (months) |
|
Identify the need for a WMC |
Project sponsors |
3 months |
|
Awareness raising and recruitment of members |
Promotion team
(could be facilitators of the WMC) |
4 months |
|
Organisation for action
(establish structure) |
Facilitators
Members |
1 month |
|
Implementation
(assessment of companies and training) |
Facilitators
Members with project teams
Students |
12-18 months |
|
Analysis of results |
Project sponsors |
2-3 months |
Waste exchange
Many businesses participate in 'waste exchange' programmes, which means that they
trade, sell or donate materials they would otherwise have discarded; for example, Parow
Industria CID exchanges glass and paper, Eskom exchanges wood from packaging crates, and
Duvah Power Station exchanges nickel cadmium batteries.
The Integrated Waste Exchange (IWEX) works by matching 'waste material generators' with
'waste material users' – companies that produce certain waste items (such as food wholesalers or
packaging producers) are matched with those that can use such items. The IWEX is offered as a
free service to all South African businesses.
To learn how to get listed on the IWEX, and to read about some local and international corporate waste exchange success stories, visit the IWEX website for more information.