Working in the waste management sector can feel isolated. The landfill engineers talk to landfill engineers, the recyclers talk to recyclers, and so on. As the president of the IWMSA I get to see the many faces of the industry, and how it all comes together.
I see that everyone is working towards a common goal, being sustainable, enabling circularity, and reducing waste either through valorising or diversion.
I have also had the privilege of attending many conferences this year, locally and internationally. Getting a boots-on-the-ground view of what is happening both at home and abroad puts the work the sector does into context, and we are often on par with or exceeding our international counterparts.
Seeing partners, collaborators, friends, and professionals heading up and presenting at conferences such as Enlit or seeing the various aspects of the sector share a stage at Ifat, is important as it shows that, as a country, we are making considerable steps in the right direction. There was also a range of IWMSA hosted events such as the Landfill and Waste Treatment Conference held in Durban this year, which solidifies the value of the organisation, bringing people together under a common goal.
Internationally, I attended the ISWA annual conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the discussions ranged from human rights to the circular economy. Seeing the work that other countries are doing only reiterates the fact that South Africa is heading in the right direction. We often look to the international space for guidance, but really, they can also learn from us, and we must give ourselves credit where it’s due.
Patricia Schröder, President, IWMSA
I was also fortunate to attend the WEEE Forum 2025 event in Edinburgh, Scotland. Seeing innovation and a will to push for real change from countries all over the world was a good energy boost in the last quarter of a very busy year.
The IWMSA is 50 years old next year, and each year is a testament to the hard work that the sector is doing, and each year we can reflect on how far we have come and learn from that, and plan for the future. With the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, saying that a single-use plastic ban is on the cards, the sector is ready to go forward and enable the circular economy initiatives that we have all been preparing for.
Expert insight provided by Patricia Schröder, President, IWMSA
