South Africa’s waste and renewable energy reforms are reshaping environmental policy into a driver of economic growth, according to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George.
“What many people call waste, we see as wealth,” George said in a statement on Monday. “By managing waste and energy wisely, we can create thousands of jobs, attract billions in investment, and build a resilient economy.”
The minister pointed to progress in streamlining approvals for environmental impact assessments, with 324 of 326 applications finalized within the legal timeframe in the 2024/2025 period. Renewable energy projects were given priority, processed in an average of 57 days.
New regulations now allow solar and battery projects in low- to medium-sensitivity areas to move forward quickly, contributing power to the national grid while creating jobs in construction and maintenance.
Waste management reforms are also yielding results. Since 2022, the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations have generated over 24,000 jobs and supported 47,000 waste pickers. Programs such as the Recycling Enterprise Support Program and community-based e-waste projects are helping to grow local businesses in areas including Bushbuckridge.
The Waste Management Bureau is addressing market failures through better pricing systems, logistics, and enforcement, while work is underway to launch a blended-finance Waste Infrastructure Fund to turn disposal into profitable ventures.
“Waste and renewable energy are no longer burdens. They are the raw materials of a new economy. Every recycling enterprise and every solar farm is a step toward inclusive prosperity,” George said.
He added that reforms backed by the National Treasury and the World Bank are expected to mobilize more than 100 billion rand (about 5.76 billion U.S. dollars) for infrastructure in water, energy, sanitation, and waste.
“When we convert waste into value and speed up renewable projects, we are proving that sustainability creates wealth,” he concluded.
