South Africa’s waste challenges can seem overwhelming, but there is a history of forward-looking and highly skilled South Africans in the waste sector, and they have been active for some time. The challenges that South Africa is facing are being tackled and have been for years.

For more than three decades, WasteMart has been a consistent presence in South Africa’s waste management sector. Established by Nazier Marthinus and his late father, the company evolved from a small family operation into a major service provider. Its development reflects the broader transformation of South Africa’s waste management industry towards compliance, efficiency, and sustainability.

According to Marthinus, the company emerged to address an evident gap in reliable waste and recycling services for businesses. “About 35 years ago, no one was offering dependable collections for supermarkets and companies,” he recalls.

“We decided to do it ourselves, and that’s where it all began.” Over the years, changing regulatory requirements and a growing emphasis on environmental accountability have reshaped its operations.

“Back then, compliance wasn’t even a word we worried about,” he adds. “Now, you need a licence in every city you operate in. The rules are stricter, but that is a good thing; it keeps people from taking shortcuts.”

One of WasteMart’s significant contributions to municipal waste systems was the introduction of Cape Town’s first two bag recycling programme. The City of Cape Town put out the tender for a company to assist in this project, and on the strength of WasteMart’s methodology proposal Cape Town chose them to help roll the programme out. The initiative separated household waste into general refuse and recyclables for collection. “We wrote the proposal for the City and rolled it out ourselves,” says Marthinus.

“Residents used two bags: one for general waste and one for recyclables, which we collected separately. That is still how the city does it today.”

Initially piloted in Parklands, Pinelands and Blaauwberg, the system reportedly diverted approximately 160 tonnes of recyclables per area from landfill each month. “It was a major shift in mindset,” he notes. “Even Johannesburg wanted to know how we did it.”

Investment in biogas and circular technologies

In 2017, WasteMart, along with other strategic partners, developed a biogas facility to process organic waste, shifting from earlier models that attempted to manage mixed municipal waste. “At first, we tried to process municipal waste for organics, but the organic ratios didn’t work,” Marthinus explains.

“We changed the model to focus purely on organic waste, and now it’s viable.” The project, supported by external funders, laid the foundation for future renewable energy initiatives and is currently run under the Cape Town Biogas banner. “It’s part of our long-term plan to run dual-fuel vehicles using gas,” he adds, emphasising the company’s commitment to innovation within the circular economy.

Marthinus describes WasteMart’s approach as guided by practical sustainability, balancing business performance with environmental responsibility. “If your business is sustainability, you have to be sustainable,” he states.

“We try to practice what we preach, from reducing our own electricity and water use to setting 12-month improvement plans. Clients notice when you are serious about it.” This operational consistency has supported long-term relationships with both municipal and private sector clients. “Doing the right thing and doing the hard work keeps clients with you,” he adds.

Technological innovation and efficiency

The company has adopted technological solutions to enhance efficiency in collection and logistics. “As far back as 1994, we had satellite tracking in our vehicles,” says Marthinus. “We worked with old SMS-based systems and antennas on computers. Now we have GPS, cameras in every vehicle, and route tracking. It has helped us make operations much more efficient.” These technologies enable real-time operational oversight and data-driven decision-making.

“Technology has always been part of how we stay competitive,” he continues. “We plan to use it even more effectively once our biogas contractor is fully on site and vehicle conversions begin.”

Collaboration with the informal recycling sector

WasteMart actively engages with informal waste pickers, purchasing recyclable glass collected through both formal and informal systems. “We buy glass back from waste pickers.

The company is also a leading collector of cullet, or recycled glass, within the Western Cape. Despite limited profitability due to low market prices, WasteMart continues to support this activity as part of its environmental commitment.

“The price for glass is too low to make big profits,” Marthinus acknowledges, “but it’s important work.” He notes recent developments that could strengthen the sector: “The Glass Recycling Company now wants to pay the informal sector directly from each transaction, even a few cents extra per kilo. That recognition means a lot to the people doing the hard work.”

EPR and regulatory alignment

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations have introduced a more structured framework for accountability in the waste industry. Marthinus recognises these developments as a positive evolution, noting that the new policies encourage transparency and support industry-wide compliance.

“EPR has given the industry more legs to run,” he observes. “It has made compliance more transparent and easier to navigate, especially with PROs supporting the process. The bans on liquids and organics make sense; they push everyone towards sustainable waste management.”

Outlook and local development

While WasteMart has the capacity for expansion, its current focus remains on strengthening operations within the Western Cape. “We’d like to expand,” Marthinus says, “but I believe there is still so much opportunity here. Smaller municipalities and factories in outlying areas need sustainable waste solutions; that is where we are focusing for now.” He highlights the importance of source separation at the production level.

“If factories separate waste properly from the start, everything improves,” he explains. “This reduced double handling, and the transportation costs which results in better pricing, more efficient recycling, less contamination, and the whole value chain benefits.” reduce double handling, reduce transports, more

WasteMart’s trajectory reflects the ongoing professionalisation of South Africa’s waste management sector. From early recycling initiatives to investments in biogas and digital logistics, the company demonstrates how private operators can align commercial objectives with environmental performance.

“It’s not easy balancing everything,” Marthinus concludes, “but if you keep doing the right thing, the right clients will find you. That is how we have survived for more than 30 years, and that is how we will keep growing.”