In a major stride toward environmental sustainability and community empowerment, deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, officially launched the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project in Madibeng Local Municipality on 15 May 2025.
This launch took place as part of the North West Service Delivery Imbizo and marks a pioneering moment for Bojanala District and the nation.
Addressing a gathering of community members, councillors, traditional leaders, and environmental partners, Deputy Minister Swarts also used the platform to call on all South Africans to unite behind President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Ten Million Trees Programme — a nationwide campaign to combat climate change, improve air quality, and foster a greener, healthier nation.
“In our meeting with the traditional leaders this morning, we discussed the urgent need to tackle climate change through tree planting,” said Swarts. “I am challenging the nation to plant one million trees on 24 September 2025, in celebration of Arbour Month. Today, the Department is leaving 400 trees in Madibeng to help kickstart this effort.”
The day’s focus, however, turned to the growing crisis of electronic waste (e-waste), now the world’s fastest-growing waste stream. South Africa produces over 360,000 tons of e-waste each year — yet only 10% is recycled. Most ends up in landfills, where toxic substances like mercury and lead contaminate water and soil.
To address this, the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project in Madibeng aims to create a local system for safely collecting and recycling old electronics such as cellphones, TVs, and laptops. Residents will now have access to designated collection points with wheelie bins for e-waste, separating it from general household refuse.
“This project is more than just waste management,” the deputy minister said. “It’s about job creation, community education, and laying the groundwork for a circular economy where waste becomes opportunity.”
The initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Madibeng Local Municipality, Bojanala District Municipality, and industry Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs). One of the local success stories is Katlego Waste Recycling, an enterprise based in Madibeng that is already helping divert waste from landfills while creating local employment.
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Updated: 2 June 2025 Monday
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