Specialist electronic and hazardous waste recycler Reclite SA has launched Vision 2030, setting out its approach to managing increasingly complex waste and preparing for the risks associated with changing products and technologies.

Managing Director Steffen Schröder says Vision 2030 formalises the company’s Forward Thinking approach: identifying future environmental and operational risks early and developing responsible ways to manage them. It will guide planning and decision-making across the business, with particular attention to end-of-life solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, electronic equipment and lighting.

“The products we use are changing, and so are the materials we must recover and the risks we must manage. We need to identify these changes early and prepare appropriate collection, handling and processing solutions before the waste arrives,” he says.

Vision 2030 brings together three principles: solve today’s challenges, anticipate tomorrow’s risks and close the loop responsibly. These cover the full end-of-life process, including collection, processing, resource recovery and the reuse of recovered materials.

The green economy advisory firm GreenCape estimates that between 1.8 million and 2.2 million solar panels could be decommissioned in South Africa in 2034. Reclite SA anticipates that volumes of this scale could arise sooner and is preparing for the associated collection, processing and material recovery requirements.

Schröder says responsible recycling also requires an understanding of how recovered materials will be treated and used.

“We need to know what happens to the materials after they leave our facilities. Their safe handling and return to productive use are part of our responsibility and depend on sound processes and partnerships,” he says.

Vision 2030 builds on Reclite SA’s existing values, refining them to strengthen their alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The eight values – purpose, partnership, forward thinking, safety, innovation, integrity, responsibility and respect – will guide conduct and decision-making across the business.