Our Executive Officer Nıcolle de Bruyn, recently had the privilege of visiting Interwaste, one of IWMSA’s Patron Members, to witness their cutting-edge waste management and resource recovery operations firsthand!
From secure product destruction to the creation of alternative fuel sources, Interwaste is setting the benchmark for sustainable waste solutions in South Africa.
During her visit, she explored several key areas of their facility, each playing a vital role in environmental responsibility and circular economy practices:
✅ Safe Disposal Facility (SDF) – Secure destruction of high-value, expired goods, recovering material into alternative fuel sources to reduce waste and support industrial energy needs.
♻️ Oily Rag Recycling – Extending the lifecycle of industrial rags through laundering and repurposing, minimizing hazardous waste in technical and production environments.
🔥 Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) – Processing non-recyclable packaging into high-energy fuel alternatives for industrial applications, reducing landfill dependency.
⚡ Waste Derived Fuel (WDF) – Blending petroleum residues with securely destroyed products to create a sustainable fuel source for cement kilns and heavy industry.
🛒 FMCG Processing – Secure de-packaging of near-expiry FMCG products, repurposing liquid contents for agricultural use while ensuring compliance and sustainability.
🚮 Consumer Goods (CG) Destruction – Controlled destruction of expired beverages and consumables, ensuring packaging is recycled and product contents are recovered for secondary applications.
🔄 Recycling & On-Site Sorting – Efficient collection, processing, and sorting of recyclables, improving material recovery and reducing waste contamination for businesses.
🧴 Aerosol Destruction Facility (ADF) – Safe disposal of aerosol cans, where metals are recycled, and liquid residues are integrated into sustainable fuel solutions.
🌿 Germiston Biodiversity Hub – A groundbreaking initiative where Interwaste is restoring biodiversity within an operational waste facility. Through soil rehabilitation, reintroducing indigenous vegetation, and enhancing habitat conditions, they are fostering an environment where industry and ecology can coexist. This effort supports invertebrate conservation and strengthens ecosystem resilience.
A big thank you to Justin Bott and Shoba Govender for the insightful tour – it’s inspiring to see how waste can be transformed into valuable resources!
#Sustainability #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #IWMSA #Interwaste
