ENERGY
At its facility in Germiston, Interwaste specialises in producing refuse-derived fuel materials. The final processed material is close to A-grade coal quality in terms of its calorific value
THE POWER OF WASTE As populations increase, so too do waste streams, placing increasing pressure on their safe disposal. For waste that cannot be recycled, there are other alternatives, like energy generation, says Kate Stubbs, group marketing director at Inter waste. By Alastair Currie
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Kate Stubbs, group marketing director at Interwaste
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IMIESA July 2022
South African company with a 33-year track record for innovation, Inter waste forms part of French multinational waste management specialist Séché Environnement, which operates in 15 countries across Europe, South America and Africa. Locally, Interwaste’s integrated solutions cover the full spectrum of general and hazardous waste, with the company operating its own licensed Class B waste landfill in Delmas, Mpumalanga. Allied operational focuses encompass waste-to-energy, waste recovery and complex hazardous waste treatment solutions. “The strategic advantage of being part of the Séché Environnement group is that Interwaste can draw on best-in-class technological solutions that support our offering within the Southern African region,” says Stubbs. A prime example is the development of a new leachate and industrial effluent
treatment plant at its Delmas site. The first of its kind in South Africa, the plant is currently under construction and scheduled for commercial operation by the end of the first quarter of 2023. “In line with current and future legislation, Interwaste’s strategy is to provide clients with expert advice on how best to manage and implement processes that optimise their waste streams, both from a sustainability and operating cost perspective,” Stubbs explains.
Waste as a resource Handled correctly, waste can be a valuable resource that promotes reuse, growth in the circular economy, and a zero waste-to-landfill methodology. “The reality is that South Africa is fast running out of landfill airspace, and constructing new facilities is not the only answer from an environmental standpoint. Therefore, we need to find solutions urgently, drawing from international best practice,” she continues. For waste that cannot be recycled, one highly viable option is to reprocess this as an alternative fuel source. In parallel are renewable waste-to-energy opportunities derived from landfill gas, organics, as well as wastewater treatment plants. In developed countries, waste-to-energy is a common practice and receiving increasing focus. Within France, for example, Séché
