Ms B. Swarts: Keynote address at the Waste Khoro Conference in Mangaung, Free State Province

18 March 2026

The Premier of Free State,       
MEC, Executive Mayors,       
Captains of industry,       
Distinguished guests,       
Waste Pickers,       
Development funding institutions,       
Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good Morning

It is a great honour and privilege for me to be addressing you at this important gathering of the waste management sector in the country. I wish to commend the Department in convening this Waste Khoro 2026, with a focus on Circular Economy Transition through Licensing. My appreciation goes to the Premier of Free State, the MEC, the Mayor of Mangaung, for hosting this Waste Khoro.

The support and participation of waste pickers, the civil society organisations, municipalities, provincial authorities, academia, Producers, Producer Responsibility Organisations, for your continued support and participation in the review of the National Waste Management Strategy 2020. Your unwavering commitment to the growth and implementation success of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in South Africa is improving service delivery and leading to the realisation of an environment that is protected from waste pollution and that is not harmful to health.

Strategic partnerships with various sectors of the society, including the private sector, become drivers to influence policy development, including our Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

This Khoro comes at a crucial moment in our country’s journey towards a circular economy — one in which materials are continuously repurposed, waste is minimised, and economic opportunities are maximised. We are putting emphasis on compliance improvement and licencing as part of our transition contributing to circular economy.

The promulgation of the Extended Producer Regulations in the past Four years in South Africa, marked a significant transition of the waste sector to formally embrace the principles of circularity, materials efficiency, environmental protection and opportunities for the unemployed and informal sector (Waste Pickers).

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Waste Act, the National Waste Management Strategy and the Extended Producer Regulations are not merely compliance tools. They are transformative policy instruments aimed at shifting accountability from downstream to upstream — placing responsibility for the entire lifecycle on the producers and brand owners themselves. This policy is about rethinking product design, improving recyclability, enhancing collection systems, and supporting the broader waste value chain. This is with an intention to keep materials as long as possible in the value chain.

We have witnessed a growing sense of accountability among producers of various prioritised products. There is a great commitment from various EPR schemes to lessen the burden of waste management from our municipalities across the country, and here in Free State in particular and in provinces such as Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal because of the volumes of waste generated there.

It is interesting to see a commitment by Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to continuously engage with Government with an intention to improve their schemes. For us, this is a good step in the right direction and we strongly encourage all of you and other EPR stakeholders to deepen the level of engagement with government. 

In the past Four (4) years, we have witnessed good progress in the rollout of many EPR schemes. Some of the key developments that we have noticed include:

An increase in industry participation and registration under various PROs; Investment in infrastructure for collection, sorting, and recycling; Partnerships that drive job creation and local circular economy; and Support for Waste Pickers.

• An increase in industry participation and registration under various PROs; 

• Investment in infrastructure for collection, sorting, and recycling; 

• Partnerships that drive job creation and local circular economy; 

• and Support for Waste Pickers.

However, we must acknowledge that challenges remain — particularly in the integration of informal waste collectors, education and behaviour change, and the development of inclusive value chains that support both environmental and socioeconomic objectives.

In July 2024, Cabinet Lekgotla agreed on a minimum Programme of Priorities and approved that these priorities be translated into a more detailed plan in the form of the 2024-2029 Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).

The MTDP will thus serve as the 5-year medium-term plan for the 7th Administration of the GNU and the implementation framework for the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, which is the existing long-term plan for South Africa towards 2030.

In his Opening of Parliament Address in July 2024, the President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa further announced on 3 strategic priorities that the GNU will action over the next 5 years, which are :

• Inclusive growth and job creation; 

• Reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living; 

• and Build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

Allow me to highlight several priority areas that require our collective attention and action:

1. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a Lever for Systemic Change

Effective implementation of EPR and circular economy goals demands stronger collaboration between government, industry, and communities. The Department recognises that government alone cannot achieve these targets. We need PPPs that unlock private sector investment, promote innovation in materials recovery, and build scalable infrastructure — especially in under-served municipalities. Such partnerships are also key to strengthening compliance, data transparency, and local beneficiation of recyclables.

2. Education, Awareness and Changing Mindsets to Shaping Behaviour

For EPR to succeed, it must be supported by an informed and engaged public. That is why we are placing growing emphasis on environmental education, awareness campaigns, and public participation. We urge all producers and PROs to embed education into their programmes — to help consumers understand separation-at-source, responsible disposal, and the value of recyclable materials. Awareness drives should be localised, multilingual, and responsive to community dynamics. An informed public is not only a better participant in recycling schemes — it becomes a driving force for innovation and accountability.

3. Waste Picker Empowerment, A Just Transition to a Circular Economy

Waste pickers are not beneficiaries — they are central players in the waste economy. For decades, they have recovered materials and diverted waste from landfills without formal recognition or support. The Department strongly encourages PROs and industry to actively integrate waste pickers into their value chains. This includes offering fair compensation, formalised working conditions, access to equipment and protective gear, and training opportunities. Inclusive EPR is not a favour — it is an imperative for justice, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

4. Increasing Waste Diversion, from Landfill to Opportunity

Our country still sends over 60% of its waste to landfill, a figure we cannot afford if we are serious about achieving our climate and development goals. Through EPR, we aim to significantly increase the rate of waste diversion, especially of plastics and composite packaging. But this requires bold action:

Supporting the Buy-Back Centres, 

• More materials recovery facilities (MRFs) across all provinces, 

• Investment in post-consumer recycling technologies, 

• Market development for secondary materials, 

• and Better integration of the informal and formal waste sectors.

The Producer Responsibility Organisations and their members are well-positioned to drive this shift — not only through recycling targets, but by closing material loops and designing products with end-of-life in mind.

5. The Way Forward and Alignment for Impact

As government, we remain committed to enabling conditions that support innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth within the waste sector to recognise waste as a resource and waste as an input material to manufacturing other products and job reaction in the process. But we also expect producers and PROs to meet their responsibilities fully and with urgency. Waste picker integration is key.

Let us commit today to:

• Strengthening reporting, accountability, and governance in EPR schemes; 

• Co-creating models that empower communities and small businesses; 

• Expanding public-private partnerships for maximum circularity and local impact; 

• and Driving national pride in environmental stewardship.

Strengthening reporting, accountability, and governance in EPR schemes; Co-creating models that empower communities and small businesses; Expanding public-private partnerships for maximum circularity and local impact; and Driving national pride in environmental stewardship.

Closing

In closing, I wish to thank all of you for the leadership and contribution to waste management in the country, circular economy transition, job creation, SMMEs support, waste picker integration. The road to a circular economy is not a short one — but by working together, aligning our efforts, and prioritising inclusion and innovation, we can build a South Africa where waste is not a burden, but a resource that powers growth, jobs, enterprise development, and environmental restoration.

Let us use this Waste Khoro 2026, in the Free State not just to reflect, but to recommit — to action, to equity, and to a cleaner, more circular future and the environment. I am looking forward to working with you in eliminating our waste management challenges and in celebrating our achievements.

I thank you

For media enquiries please contact:

Mr. Zolile Nqayi:   
Cell: 082 898 6483  
Email: znqayi@dffe.gov.za