The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is calling on its members, partners, and long-standing industry stakeholders to contribute historical photographs and memories as part of its upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.

As the Institute prepares to commemorate five decades of service to the waste management sector, it is seeking archived images that capture the people, projects, milestones, and moments that have shaped the organisation and the industry over the years.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to preserve IWMSA’s legacy and celebrate its contribution to the development of sustainable waste management practices in Southern Africa since its establishment in 1976.

The Institute is inviting submissions of photographs from past conferences, site visits, committee meetings, industry events, member gatherings, company engagements, and notable Institute activities. “Then and now” photographs are also encouraged to showcase the evolution of the organisation and the sector over time.

IWMSA is particularly interested in receiving contributions from long-standing members who may have access to historical archives and photographs dating back to the Institute’s early years.

The collected material will form part of the Institute’s 50-year celebrations and contribute to a commemorative publication currently in development. The project aims to honour the people, partnerships, and achievements that have helped shape IWMSA and the waste management industry across Southern Africa.

Members and contributors are encouraged to submit high-quality images, along with any available captions, dates, names, or background information that can help provide historical context to the photographs.

Photographs and supporting information can be sent to Nicolle de Bruyn at iwmsa@iwmsa.co.za before 5 June 2026.

Through this initiative, IWMSA hopes to create a meaningful historical record that reflects the growth of both the Institute and the broader waste management sector over the past five decades.