As South Africa increasingly looks to renewables to help address the country’s chronic energy crisis, independent power producers must ensure they have the right systems in place to dispose of wind and solar energy and associated storage equipment reaching the end of its life cycle.
 
World leaders attending the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) have praised South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), which outlines planned investment to accelerate the country’s shift away from coal.
 
Patricia Schröder, the spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy, says it is crucial that plans to increase the country’s use of renewable energy also cover waste management. “Our commitment to sustainability cannot simply focus on how we generate energy but must extend across the entire energy value chain, Schröder explains. 
 
Renewable energy does generate waste
Wind and solar power and storage equipment typically have a lifespan of between 15 and 30 years, requiring power producers to plan well beyond their immediate waste disposal needs.
 
As countries around the world have increased their capacity to generate renewable energy in recent years, the volume of used wind and solar power and storage equipment that needs to be disposed of, has also steadily increased. This equipment typically has a lifespan of between 15 and 30 years
 
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has estimated that globally photovoltaic panels used to generate solar power may create a cumulative 60 to 78 million tons of waste by 2050. IRENA estimates that in South Africa, this number could amount to 1 million tons by that same year.
 
Renewable equipment can be recycled
Schröder says producers must use the time at their disposal to consider the best solutions for the future disposal of the equipment they install now. However, producers already have existing obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, which came into effect in May 2021.
 
These regulations aim 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.
 
Schröder says South Africa does have the capacity to recycle solar and wind generation and storage equipment. Between 80% of 90% of a wind turbine can be recycled, including the concrete and steel used to build turbine towers. Similarly, the glass and aluminium frame of a solar panel makes up more than 80% of its weight and both these materials can easily be recycled. Battery storage systems of all chemistries are recycled in South Africa.
 
Compliance with EPR regulations will help to ensure that equipment at the end of its life cycle is channelled to the appropriately licenced facilities.  “Without the correct systems in place, the very same equipment that was designed to be green can end up having a very detrimental impact on the environment,” Schröder says. 
                                 
She says Circular Energy wants to help producers to care for the environment through a multi-faceted, best-practice strategy. “PROs like Circular Energy can offer producers advice and services to help them to comply with regulations and contribute to putting in place the concept of a circular economy that can unlock opportunities for growth and employment.”
 
ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux,060 995 6277 rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za  
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/  
LinkedIn: Circular Energy

The legal criteria for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) came into effect in May 2021.
 
EPR aims to ensure that producers are accountable for the whole life cycle of the products they market and sell, from conception to post-consumer waste disposal.
 
In South Africa, these producers are defined under the EPR regulations to include the full value chain: From manufacturers, converters, and refurbisher’s to importers and brand-owners.
 
Any person or category of persons involved in the commercial manufacture, conversion, refurbishment, or import of any new or used EPR items fall under this category.
 
Manufacturers and importers of packaged goods also fall under the definition of "producers" of packaging materials and will be impacted.
 
The onus now also falls on producers
According to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy NPC, this decision is a game changer.
 
“Before the passing of the EPR regulations, the public, including local governments and business’, bore the full financial burden and responsibility of waste collection and disposal,” she explains. “These regulations return the onus of responsibility to the producers of Electric and Electronic Equipment, Lighting and Light Equipment and paper, packaging, and single-use goods. They must be accountable for a product's whole lifespan.”
 
Schröder elaborates that it is intended that by making manufacturers financially and/or operationally accountable for their  end-of-life products, more waste will be kept out of landfills; and more recycling and other circular economy initiatives will gain traction.
 
“The producer of Electrical or Electronic Equipment, Lighting and Lighting Equipment and paper and packaging must be either the Brand Owner of the items using the packaging, the Retailer in the case of house brands, or the Importer of the goods contained in the packaging, according to international best practice. As it engages all stakeholders at every level of the packaging value chain, this innovative strategy might be a workable means to move towards sustainable waste management and a Circular Economy.”
 
With the development of the 2023 EPR plans underway, Schröder explains that the focus now falls on the submissions and ability of the PROs to meet the legislative requirements.
 
“It is now mandatory for producers to register with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE;) on their website and ensure that all recognised products are covered by an appropriate EPR Scheme.”
 
PRO’s can assist in reducing the administrative workload
She explains that producers must also comply to the following options,: they must join an existing PRO, or create and submit an independent EPR Scheme, (the 05 Nov 2021 deadline for this has already passed). to DFFE for their Electrical and Electronic Products, Lighting and Lighting Equipment and packaging.
 
“Joining a PRO is very beneficial, as it can help producers be compliant through its take-back scheme,” Schröder says. “In order to ensure that their Producer Members are fulfilling their legal obligations under the EPR Regulations, PRO's can offer them the advice and services necessary.”
 
In addition, she emphasises the interests of the various sectors should be safeguarded to enable the entire take-back scheme is both effective and affordable for producers. This entails meeting all legal requirements in accordance with best practice principles.
 
“It will be the responsibility of the PRO to drive sector-based waste minimisation programmes, manage financial arrangements for funds to promote the reduction, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste; drive awareness programmes and innovate new measures to reduce the potential impact of products on health and the environment.”
 
Schröder sums up the PRO’s primary goals as follows:

• Using a compliant effective and efficient system while adhering to stringent governance principles
• Promoting and putting the concepts of the circular economy into practice
• Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals in order to make a real difference in the world
• Caring for the environment with a multifaceted, best practice strategy

 
“The PRO will be in charge of leading sector-based waste minimisation programs, managing financial arrangements for funds to support waste reduction, re-use, recycling, and recovery, and developing innovative solutions to lessen potential effects of products on human health and the environment,” she concludes.
 
ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux , 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy

Every year on October 14, International E-Waste Day is observed.
 
This year, the major focus is those little electrical devices that we no longer use, but store in cabinets and drawers - or often simply throw in the regular trash.
 
According to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy NPC, recycling products in the correct way is much more important than most technology users realize.
 
Damage of e-waste is substantial
“The damage these seemingly small, obsolete electrical and electronic appliances can cause is considerable. According to UN estimates, about 22 million tonnes of tiny e-waste were produced globally in 2019. This amounts to 40% of the total of all electronic garbage generated worldwide,” she cautions.
 
“Items like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, toasters, and cameras count amongst the e-waste most frequently disposed of incorrectly - ending up in rubbish bins and eventually landfilled. This prevents the extraction of the valuable raw elements they contain, which is then lost.”
 
This while a much better solution is available: E-waste recycling! This is the process of extracting valuable materials after shredding the e-waste into small fractions that could be reused in a new electronic appliance.
 
Schröder adds that the average user discards more than 1 kg of e-waste every year.  "And much more than that is lying around in our homes, abandoned and forgotten, when it could be recycled successfully."
 
Take-back programs make responsible recycling easy
Schröder says despite the fact that proper end-of-life options is actually relatively easy, many individuals feel overwhelmed and end up throwing their e-waste in the regular trash.
 
“This is where PRO’s and our e-waste-focused take-back schemes can be of great assistance,” she explains. “Companies like Circular Energy that manage the collection of e-waste are constantly working to make the proper disposal simple and convenient for consumers.”
 
Such a take-back system focuses on the collection, recycling, and environmentally sound processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment, (WEEE), Lighting and Lighting and lighting Equipment, Batteries and Packaging.
 
Schröder suggests that communities and schools can get involved by encouraging pupils and citizens to collect and hand over as much e-waste as they can find on their homes on this day.
 
“Circular Energy NPC will gladly assist with your take-back process to ensure it is recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
 
“Kids can even make it a fun treasure hunt by going through their homes, looking for appropriate items,” she says.
 
Small e-waste includes items like batteries, cords, computer mice, cellphones, electric toothbrushes. And the larger items are computers, monitors, keyboards, scanners, printers and televisions, amongst others.
 
“Tackling the e-waste issue as a community and committing to a take-back program, makes responsible recycling fun,” Schröder concludes. “This all whilst putting the ‘more difficult’ work in the hands of the e-waste experts.”
 
ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux , 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy