The Western Cape’s 100% Organic Waste to Landfill Ban, which comes into effect in 2027, is compelling farmers, food manufacturers, retailers, and other food businesses to fundamentally rethink how they manage surplus food – or what the industry erroneously calls ‘waste’. While the regulation is designed to reduce waste and protect the environment, it also presents an unprecedented opportunity to address South Africa’s food insecurity crisis by redirecting edible surplus food to the millions of people who need it most. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/100-organic-waste-to-landfill-ban-in-2027-waste-less-feed-more-people-189686a

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), in partnership with the Vaal-Orange Catchment Management Agency (VOCMA), has undertaken a public consultation on the proposed raw water tariffs for the 2027/28 financial year. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/dws-vaal-orange-cma-undertake-raw-water-tariff-consultations-2026-07-31

South African retailers should not wait for legislation to force them away from plastic shopping bags, according to sustainable packaging supplier Traderbag, which says businesses that move to paper now could gain a head start on both environmental action and supply-chain readiness.https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/retailers-urged-to-ditch-plastic-bags-before-2027-deadline-301098a

There is an ongoing shift from traditional technologies to embracing smart technologies for dust collection, whereby the latter are adopted to improve plant efficiency, operational reliability, profitability and sustainability, says industrial filtration solutions company Brasco Filtration – a division of Brasco Group. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/dust-solutions-reduce-cost-improve-operationality-2026-07-17

Researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) found widespread contamination — including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and metals linked to urban development, wastewater discharges, and harbour activities — in False Bay. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/false-bay-seabed-acts-as-a-storage-reservoir-for-pollution-731362a

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has launched the ‘E‑Waste Collection and Recycling Pilot Project’ in Cape Town, which marks the eleventh e-waste drop-off and collection point since 2024. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/dffe-launches-ewaste-collection-and-recycling-pilot-project-in-cape-town-2026-06-15

Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) – a product of recycled asphalt roads – is moving from a supplementary option to a core component of modern road construction, as sustainability, cost-efficiency and resource security shape infrastructure agendas worldwide, says asphalt and concrete solutions provider Lintec & Linnhoff. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/recycling-technology-aids-circular-ambitions-asphalt-production-2026-06-12

Conservationists analyse overwhelming volumes of ecological data in their work. For example, they might need to process decades of weather data or the movements of millions of insects. Up until now, these scientists and decision makers have had to manually find and sort information, then use statistical tools which often oversimplify the source information. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/ai-in-nature-conservation-powerful-tool-or-dangerous-shortcut-067845a

South Africa generates more than 100 million tonnes of general waste, which usually ends up in a landfill. With a rising youth unemployment rate, the circular economy presents a viable economic opportunity for many young South Africans with bright ideas seeking to make money. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/why-sa-youth-shouldnt-waste-the-circular-economy-opportunity-623271a

While South Africa’s raw water supply remains in balance with existing demand on a national scale, localised deficits remain – with municipal water services reliability declining sharply and water board debt increasing. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/bulk-water-in-balance-local-deficits-still-weigh-on-water-sector-2026-05-15