PROJECT PARTNERS

The research is being funded by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Professor Rinie Schenck, DSI/NRF/CSIR Chair of Waste and Society, based at the University of the Western Cape is principal researcher. Hugh Tyrrell, director of GreenEdge Communication is providing overall project management, communication and behaviour change services. Brenda Skelenge is managing community engagement and collection logistics together with community non-profit Ubuntu-Bethu. Kudoti is providing the digital platform for data tracking and reporting.

systems for downstream use. To advance the development of these technologies, which often require large volumes of waste to evaluate, research has to be focused now on efficient at-source collection systems.

This will provide estimates of regular volumes of material that could be delivered to treatment plants, on whose availability the economic feasibility depends.

National support for pilots

The national importance of dealing with AHP waste is increasing. The DFFE has put out a tender to develop a strategy which states: ”… pilot projects should help to lay a foundation for the drafting of the strategy… to identify potential policy instruments and action plans that could help the country to address AHP waste effectively.”(2)

Industry-funded pilots such as the one at Samora Machel will be contributing to a process where all parties – government , business and civil society - collaborate in finding evidencebased end-use solutions to managing AHP waste material.

*Director of GreenEdge Communication

References:

1. “Detailed Feasibility Study and Business Case/s for the Establishment of Refuse Derived Fuel Plants to Address Absorbent Hygiene Products and other Residual Materials” - Linden Corporation, for Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment, 31 March 2021.

2. “Appointment of a service provider to develop a strategy relating to the design and disposal of absorbent hygienic products (AHP) waste, such as baby, adult diapers and feminine care products in South Africa, for a twelve (12) month period” – Tender document, Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment, September 2022.