After five years of advancing sustainable e-waste management, the South Africa chapter of the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) programme has officially concluded. The closing event, held on 21 May 2025 at the Residence of Switzerland in Pretoria, brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society to celebrate achievements, reflect on lessons learned, and explore the road ahead.
Stakeholders from across government, industry, academia, and civil society came together at the Residence of Switzerland in Pretoria to mark the official close of the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) Programme in South Africa. Hosted under the theme “Leaving a WEEE Management Legacy for South Africa”, the event celebrated five years of collaboration, culminating in the conclusion of the SRI programme—focused on establishing a sustainable and inclusive e-waste (WEEE) management system.
The event was more than a celebration—it was a call to action. Attendees agreed that the groundwork laid by the SRI Programme must continue to guide the country’s journey toward a circular economy. Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and jointly implemented by the World Resources Forum (WRF) and Empa – the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, SRI South Africa built on over a decade of international experience to catalyse local progress in e-waste management.
There is definitely interest about e-waste in South Africa, and we are taking advantage to raise awareness. SRI has laid the basis for a sustainable awareness raising.
Key Milestones from the SRI Project in South Africa (2020-2025)
SRI contributed to building a strong foundation for sustainable e-waste management in South Africa through a range of technical, policy, and capacity-building achievements.
Draft National WEEE Policy developed and gazetted—a critical step towards regulation, with implementation now confirmed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
WEEE Norms and Standards introduced, laying the foundation for a future Conformity Assessment Scheme.
Municipal WEEE Compass and Small-Scale E-Waste Facility Framework developed to support business and government actors in the operationalisation of sustainable e-waste systems.
Creation of WEEEareSA, an open-access national knowledge platform serving as a hub for awareness, technical guidance, and stakeholder engagement.
The SRI programme has unlocked a lot of other opportunities. It has positioned South Africa as a leader in the whole SADC region in terms of e-waste management.
Stakeholders widely credited the programme with facilitating collaboration between public and private actors—particularly Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), recyclers, and regulators.
While much progress has been made, the need for further education and training was highlighted as a critical area to sustain momentum. Participants expressed hope that future initiatives, such as the Circular Economy Initiative (CEI), will carry forward the lessons and tools developed under SRI.
E-waste is a greenfield to create jobs. The question is how you leverage what came out of the programme to create sustainable jobs for the country.
A Collective Responsibility Moving Forward
As the SRI Programme comes to a close, the message was clear: the journey has only just begun. All stakeholders share a responsibility to carry the legacy forward—to embed the knowledge, tools, and relationships built through SRI into a lasting transformation of South Africa’s recycling systems.
About SRI
The Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) programme contributes to the development of a sustainable recycling industry for e-waste and related waste streams in developing countries. Through recycling initiatives in Colombia, Peru, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa, SRI is building capacity for sustainable e-waste management by supporting national activities and implementing pilot projects. In 2023, activities in Colombia and Peru were concluded. Activities in Egypt, Ghana and South Africa are being concluded in 2025. SRI is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).