eThekwini Waste recovery centre receives funding boost
The eThekwini Waste Materials Recovery Industry Development Centre (USE-IT) programme will receive R570,000 in additional funding.
The Economic Development and Planning Committee stated in its report that USE-IT is one of the few initiatives within the municipality that specifically supports the development and growth of the waste economic sector.
The eThekwini Council approved the amendment to the current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which commenced on 1 January 2025 and concludes on 31 December 2027.
The committee stated that the initiative has delivered reasonably well in the past few years and established a strong focus on rural and township waste economies and job creation within the recycling value chain.
“This is a robust foundation on which to build and expand the program. The municipality has also recognised the importance of stimulating and supporting the green circular economy agenda through its various strategic positioning as one of the potential key contributors to the local and national economy in eThekwini,” the committee stated in its report.
The proposal received from USE-IT is for the expansion of the Alternative Building Technology Programme, which will explore utilising recovered waste plastic material as building materials.
The committee stated that USE-IT has just finished a successful capacity building initiative where more than thirty people from Hammarsdale, Dassenhoek and KwaNdengezi were trained through a partnership with Human Sciences Research Council using recycled glass material to make a special type of interlocking block material.
According to the committee, the additional request on the current partnership is in line with the stimulation and growth of priority sectors contributing towards the realisation of the plan 2 goal of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which is to develop the economic wealth of the Durban region for the material well-being of all its citizens.
The support of priority economic sectors, such as the green economy, is in line with the strategic development principles of the IDP. This is also aligned to the National government economic imperatives through the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition which recognises that the green industries sector which includes waste management and recycling is known for its significant potential to promote Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) development and employment opportunities.
“Through interventions such as organised waste collection systems, beneficiation of waste as an input resource and manufacturing of new products from recyclables even to fit into the green building sub-sector,” the report stated.
According to the municipality, the funding for the programme will include:
- Waste plastic recovery and other construction materials-R250,000
- Skills development and training coordination, training, oversight and reporting-R250,000
- Launch and technology promotion-R70,000
Heinz De Boer, eThekwini ward 36 councillor, said that the Democratic Alliance supported the waste programme being initiated and encouraged the city to introduce it to other wards in the municipality.
“People will be empowered by the skills training and it will assist the unemployed in all wards,” he said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za