Recycling operations are context-based, with no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. For recycling to be effective, it must be adapted to circumstances.

“We have no control over what the client wants us to get rid of, we have to deal with whatever is thrown away,” says Reg Barichievy, team leader of WasteSynergy. “Where we differ from many of our colleagues is that they give clients a checklist. We prefer to go to site, look at the waste streams, and ask, what are your problems?”

Barichievy emphasises that the source of the waste determines how it can be managed. Clean industries, such as retail, typically generate cardboard, pallet wrap and packaging, while production and construction environments produce ‘dirtie’r waste, like steel offcuts, rubble and floor sweepings.

The company’s strength lies in recycling on site. “If you have to pick it up and take it from site to another spot, you double-handle it, which doubles the cost and increases the risk of contamination,” explains Barichievy.

A typical example is a shopping centre delivery yard, where WasteSynergy sets up containers and sorting tables. Staff separate recyclables such as cardboard, plastics, tins and glass from general waste. “We do not have the volumes or capital for sophisticated machinery like Europe. We use local labour, which is a very good solution. It creates jobs, and our staff sort manually with excellent accuracy.”

Efficiency in practice

For Barichievy, efficiency is about how systems are set up. He gives an example of a shopping centre that insisted on 23 separate collection points.

“If you have to go to 23 different points and collect everything, you employ two people just to walk around all day. That is inefficient. They are not recycling, they are fetching,” he said. “A better system is to consolidate and sort in one place.”

Clients are encouraged to recycle at source wherever possible. “If we can, we get the client’s staff to recycle, because that is even more efficient,” he added.

WasteSynergy’s model is labour-intensive, which makes staff training central to its operations. “If I am talking to senior management, I will explain the financial benefits, maybe with a short presentation. But if I am working with staff on the ground we explain how and why things are done. Getting people to buy-in rather than having a new system imposed on them is essential to success.”

The training often takes the form of demonstrations, with bins emptied out to show what can be recycled and what must be discarded. “If we do not get people to understand why they are doing it, they will never buy in. We explain that waste is a global problem, and that by sorting properly we are helping ourselves and our children,” he adds.

Targets and reporting

To improve recycling rates, WasteSynergy relies on targets and regular monitoring. “Our staff have daily KPIs. If they have 15 bins, only five can go to general waste. They know what they are working towards, and they report on it. We in turn report to our clients,” Barichievy says.

Monthly reports break down general waste and recyclables into detailed streams such as cardboard, hard and soft plastics, polystyrene, glass and metals. Food waste is tracked by volume, with certification to prove it has gone to registered composters.

This data is not just for compliance. “Some clients actually use their waste data to manage their businesses,” Barichievy explains. One retailer used incoming and outgoing waste to track efficiency, while a hotel group used food waste data to adjust portion sizes and menu planning.

The biggest challenge to recycling remains cost. “The cost of landfill is going through the roof, particularly in the Western Cape. People are unwilling to pay more for waste services, but they are expecting more from us,” Barichievy notes.

Imported machinery is rarely appropriate. “We have seen many people bring in expensive equipment from overseas. It is inappropriately sized, too costly, and it does not work here. We are constantly looking for African solutions.”.

Waste-to-energy is often raised as an option, but Barichievy is cautious. “It is difficult and expensive. You need a reliable feedstock and infrastructure, which we do not have. For now, recycling, repurposing and alternative uses for materials remain the most practical solutions.”

Responsible waste management

For Barichievy, responsibility depends on the client’s mindset.

“Some clients want nothing to do with their waste. They say, take it away and send us a bill. That is their choice, and at least they recognise the problem.”

Others take a more collaborative approach. “When we are on site, we understand them better, they understand us better, and together we create systems that work. The results are more efficient and everyone is happier,” he adds. .

Ultimately, WasteSynergy’s work is about finding sustainable, practical solutions that create jobs, reduce landfill, and fit the South African context. Barichievy explains, “We cannot simply copy Europe. We need African solutions for African problems.”