According to the institute, it is no secret that all sectors within our economy were thrust into the unknown and were forced to adapt very quickly in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown.

The institute adds that South Africa's waste sector was no exception, as both public and private waste management organisations had to relook at their operational strategies to see themselves through a challenging economic phase.

Along with COVID-19 risk-adjusted strategy implementation, social distancing requirements, and capacity limitations, the waste sector had to comply with fast-changing legislation, says the institute. 

"Not only did South Africa's waste sector comply and adjust to COVID-19 circumstances, but we saw the launch of a new national waste management strategy that is aimed at bolstering the circular economy by giving waste more value," says Brendon Jewaskiewitz, president of IWMSA. 

According to the institute, the circular economy is an economic system that replaces the 'end of life' concept by reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering materials in production, distribution and consumption processes. This is with the aim of achieving sustainable development.

The institution adds that the reuse and recycling of products is of great importance and, at the end of its life cycle, a product should become a new resource rather than being discarded to landfill. The circular economy recognises the value of 'waste items' and focuses on re-purposing them as alternative resources.

The transition to a circular economy is beneficial for both the environment (taking stress off virgin natural resources) and the economy, where costs are saved by re-purposing materials, says the institute. A circular economy will also bring more green jobs to many sectors.

"WasteCon comes at the perfect time, with the approval of our new waste management strategy," says Jewaskiewitz. "The event will be centred around the circular economy concept to bring the waste sector up to speed with the new national waste management strategy." 

WasteCon will aim to bring together many major waste sector role-players from private waste management companies, national, provincial and local government departments and municipalities. It will aim to provide a platform to discuss the transition to a circular economy and the new waste management strategy.

WasteCon is taking place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. Early bird registrations are still available up until Saturday, 31 October 2020 and are available here. 

For more information, visit www.wastecon.co.za. You can also follow WasteCon on Facebook or on Twitter.