In May, the IWMSA hosted the Waste 360 conference. These conferences allow us to gather, speak one language, and find solutions to the problems that we all face. This conference, however, was a little more special because it wasn’t hosted in Johannesburg or Cape Town but rather the Eastern Cape.

The Eastern Cape is often left out of conversations, but this conference proves that the province is a power player. The passion and rigour displayed by the Eastern Cape branch of the IWMSA spoke volumes. Away from the usual hubs of Cape Town and Johannesburg, the East London event was a learning moment. We learned from companies and organisations that are doing exceptional work against the odds.

Those in the waste industry know that the informal economy and the township economy are significant to the sector. What we find in the Eastern Cape is not just an understanding of this but a way forward on how to engage these isolated economies in common interest.

Townships are non-standard; they usually do not have the same service provision as formalised areas, and they require non-standard thinking and solutions. These townships are economic hubs, and the people living there are just as ready and willing to have a cleaner, functional environment. Within the townships, numerous informal jobs emerge from waste, and wherever there are jobs, there is a corresponding need. Waste entrepreneurs are finding ways to collect, reuse, and recycle in areas that need the service.

What was also highlighted at the conference was the need and importance of community engagement. Communities are keen to work together if they understand the project and its positive benefits.

We need to consider thinking outside of our cities and suburbs, and into the wider areas of South Africa if we are to make an impact.

Conferences are necessary. They allow us to gather, but more importantly, they are teaching and learning spaces, and there are lessons to be learned from all over South Africa. We cannot afford not to listen if we truly care about waste management, taking lessons from wherever they come.

I would like to thank the IWMSA Eastern Cape Branch and its chair, Mervin Olivier, for a spectacular conference. The dedication and commitment you displayed are inspiring, and we take this forward with us as we tackle the issue of waste in South Africa.