JOHANNESBURG, SA, Water is a critical resource and has a tremendous impact on Africa’s development. Unfortunately, climate change, together with a soaring population, has led to an increase in the demand for water – a demand that in many countries, outstrips the available resources. As the availability of water declines, the facilitation of water for domestic consumption, agriculture and other uses is becoming critical, as is the modernising of water infrastructure to meet the growing demand. Bear in mind that Africa is a continent with 1.2 billion people, and a…
Read MoreCategory: RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
What are the most common ways water is wasted?
South Africa’s lopsided water supply prompts it to focus on reducing water wastage. Modern technology can help reduce wastage, but it also requires fundamental operational changes. Some of the common ways water is wasted are ageing infrastructure; insufficient water management; not using water-related data; poor water recycling; and outdated irrigation techniques. By addressing these elements, communities can help protect and improve their water resources. JOHANNESBURG, SA – South Africa is among the more water-stressed countries in the world. It has abundant water resources in some areas, but many parts…
Read MoreEskom, Arcelor Among SA Firms Lacking Emissions Plans
Eskom, which accounts for two-fifths of South Africa’s greenhouse-gas emissions, leads the country’s biggest emitters in its failure to set targets to reduce its impact on the climate, a report shows. The state power utility, which produces most of its electricity from coal, also doesn’t disclose who at the company is responsible for assessing its climate-based risks, the Cape Town-based Centre for Environmental Rights said in a report released on Monday. With its economy heavily dependent on mining and manufacturing, South Africa ranks as the continent’s biggest producer of greenhouse…
Read MoreRealigning water industry assets in digitally enhanced operations
Digital transformation is blending information and operational technology for asset performance improvements that reduce costs, optimise efficiency and improve conservation in the water and wastewater operations. “This opportunity comes at a time when water is recognised as a limited, high-value resource,” states Jacques Squire, Water and Wastewater Segment Leader at Schneider Electric South Africa. “The United Nations projects that if current water usage trends continue, by 2030 the world will have only 60% of the water it needs. This pending scarcity compounds pressures already mounting in the industry.” Industry pressures…
Read MoreFlip-flops to building blocks: Ivory Coast uses plastic waste to build classrooms
The one-of-a-kind factory is aiming to build 500 classrooms across the country by 2021, using plastic bricks. Inna Lazareva, Thomson Reuters Foundation / 3 August 2019 00:19 3 comments Plastic products like flip flops and tyres are turned into plastic bricks to build schools in the Ivory Coast. Picture: Thierry Gouegnon, Reuters Too much plastic and not enough schools are scourges of modern life many countries face. Now a factory in West Africa will try to tackle both by transforming old flip-flops and car tyres into bricks to build classrooms. The factory…
Read MoreChina plastic waste ban throws global recycling into chaos
From grubby packaging engulfing small Southeast Asian communities to waste piling up in plants from the US to Australia, China’s ban on accepting the world’s used plastic has plunged global recycling into turmoil. For many years, China received the bulk of scrap plastic from around the world, processing much of it into a higher quality material that could be used by manufacturers. But at the start of 2018, it closed its doors to almost all foreign plastic waste, as well as many other recyclables, in a push to protect the…
Read MoreNext-Gen On-Site Thermophilic Waste Digesting Extremophile Machine
A UK specialist in the on-site reduction of solid and liquid organic waste, Advetec, has launched the an evolution of its Bio-Thermic Digester (BTD) technology. The Advetec XO is designed to rapidly reduce the organic content within waste at source, cutting off-site transportation and processing costs and helping companies achieve zero waste to landfill. Designed initially for industrial food and drink manufacturers who currently pay for organic waste disposal to be collected and processed off-site, the Advetec XO is a small footprint, fully contained on-site solution, delivering a 60% to…
Read MoreChina bans foreign waste – but what will happen to the world’s recycling?
The dominant position that China holds in global manufacturing means that for many years China has also been the largest global importer of many types of recyclable materials. Last year, Chinese manufacturers imported 7.3m metric tonnes of waste plastics from developed countries including the UK, the EU, the US and Japan. © paul Prescott – 123RF.com However, in July 2017, China announced big changes in the quality control placed on imported materials, notifying the World Trade Organisation that it will ban imports of 24 categories of recyclables and solid waste by the end of the year. This campaign against yang laji or…
Read MoreIndia’s New Roads Are Made With Recycled Plastic
Plastic roads are more durable than asphalt ones, cheaper to build, and better for the environment. By Phineas Ruecke The 1967 film “The Graduate” may have said it best: “There’s a great future in plastics.” Adidas is making shoes and swimsuits with recycled ocean plastic, refugees are building shelters with plastic bottles, and in Haiti women are turning plastic bottles into ink cartridges. Now, India is building roads with recycled plastic. And for the past five years, one part of the Indian subcontinent has been leading the way. Take Action:…
Read MorePolyco Brings International Expert to South Africa to Share Solutions on Marine Pollution
Considering the millions of tonnes of plastic and other discarded material that go from the land into the sea every year, it’s no wonder that there is no place in the ocean that is free of it. We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it, because they do. This is according to world-renowned oceanographer and explorer, Dr Sylvia Earle who was brought to South Africa by Polyco to deliver the keynote address at the recently held inaugural African Marine…
Read More