The Western Cape is primed to lead South Africa’s shift to a circular economy - backed by forward-thinking policy, strong public-private collaboration, and a thriving green innovation ecosystem.
With an estimated US$366 million in untapped value annually, the province offers significant opportunities in recycling, remanufacturing, and regenerative design.
Globally, the circular economy is booming - set to grow from US$554 billion in 2023 to US$1.9 trillion by 2033. South Africa generates 122 million tonnes of waste each year with 90% of it going to landfill, representing a US$1.5 billion missed opportunity.
The time to invest in circular solutions is now.
Key segments include:
Organics
Cape Town landfilled 385,000+ tonnes of organic waste in 2020. Circular solutions like composting and biogas could unlock between US$1.1M - US$213M annually.
Plastics
The Western Cape generated 245,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2020 worth up to US$146M. Cape Town leads in volume, enabling scalable recycling and reuse.
E-Waste
Rising digital use is driving e-waste - creating high-value opportunities in repair, refurbishment, and material recovery.
Why Cape Town & the Western Cape
1. Partnerships Driving Impact
220+ business partnerships through the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme have turned waste into value - cutting costs and emissions.
2. High-Value Opportunities
Huge untapped potential in organic waste, plastic, and e-waste could add up to US$366 million to the economy each year.
3. Recycling on the Rise
Cape Town is rapidly expanding its ability to process organic waste, nearly doubling capacity by 2027 with new composting, biogas, and insect farming sites.
4. Supportive Ecosystem
Government bodies like GreenCape and the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ) support circular economy businesses through incentives, infrastructure, and market access.
5. Circular Thinking in City Policy
Cape Town integrates green jobs, climate action, and smarter waste into urban strategy.
6. Insect Farming Innovation
Cape Town leads in using insects to turn food waste into animal feed and fertiliser - Black Soldier Fly tech can process 275,000 tonnes of food waste and create hundreds of jobs.
7. Clean Energy Loop
Businesses are investing in solar panels and batteries that let them produce, store, and reuse their own energy - helping cut reliance on the national grid.
8. Smart Farming for Exports
Tech-driven agriculture conserves water, boosts exports, and meets global standards.
9. Reliable Governance
The Western Cape’s stable governance, commitment to sustainability, and business friendly policies make it a secure, strategic base for investment.
10. Incentives
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