Tag: landfill
Bioplastics in Africa – a green revolution
Every aspect of our everyday lives involves the use of plastic in one form or another. From electronics to water bottles and cars to children’s toys, there seems to be an insatiable demand for products crafted from fossil fuel-based material. This results in immense environmental strain as landfills spill over into the natural environments and oceans, leaving traces of plastic in our soil and water sources.
Managing e-waste – a guide to responsible appliance disposal
e-Waste from electrical and electronic appliances and devices is becoming a major problem for South Africa. According to Gauteng’s government website, the country produces around 360,000 tons of e-waste every year, with the province accounting for 55% of that volume.
What does a new laptop cost the environment?
When you hear the word ‘carbon emissions’, images of towering chimneys at coal-fired plants, endless motor vehicles on the highway, and large-scale manufacturing facilities may come to mind. But have you ever considered the environmental impact of your company laptop? Research shows that 3.7% of carbon emissions, also known as global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), are caused by digital technologies.
Hyperscalers – the mindful expansion into Africa
The marriage of global expertise with local know-how cannot be overstated. This is particularly true in the case of hyperscaler marketplace in Africa, which has enjoyed some tremendous growth in recent years. In South Africa, global cloud service providers (CSPs) like Microsoft, IBM, AWS, Oracle have expanded their cloud data centres which, in turn, has bolstered the hyperscaler market.
Digital signage trends that will light up your screens
As technologies continue to evolve, digital signage now seamlessly integrates into the everyday lives of consumers and brands. The integration of digital signage into consumers’ lives in the retail and Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) sectors, in particular, has resulted in digital signage trends often times mirroring the concerns and changes that are important to consumers, making for a more efficient brand-consumer relationship with reliability and consistency being the key focus.
The effect of EPR regulations on the recycling infrastructure
The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations which came into effect in May 2021, aims to ensure that producers are accountable for the entire life cycle of the products they place on the market, from conception to post-consumer waste disposal. Its influence will extend well beyond the producers.
Reimaging, recreating and restoring our ecosystems
Life on earth is symbiotic, each component within the ecosystem plays a significant role – you only have to examine how the loss of the bee population today is affecting food systems – to be reminded of just how interconnected everything really is.
World Population Day: Waste not, want not – is the world’s...
As the global population continues to increase, waste generation is threatening biodiversity and the planet as a whole. With the global population expected to significantly exceed nine billion people by 2050, of which some 2.5 billion will be living on the African continent, biodiversity is shrinking, even as the waste generated by billions of people grows exponentially.
Fighting food waste through sustainable waste management
A third of the food that is produced in South Africa is destined for landfill sites, which are fast reaching full capacity. According to statistics, South Africa produces 10 million tonnes of food waste[1] every year and reportedly, has the largest proportion of food wastage in Africa. Yet, an average of 14 million people[2] go to bed hungry every night and 2,5million of these are children.
Pursuing a triple zero future: the new reality for mining in...
The mining industry has envisioned a new future where business, human and environmental interests are not competing priorities, but complementary strengths: a 'Triple Zero' future of zero harm, zero loss, and zero waste. In the Triple Zero future, where zero harm is lived out day-to-day, the health and well-being of the workforce act as a fulcrum for sustainable business operations.