South Africa faces a major waste management crisis. An estimated 37% of households have no waste collection services at all, and many more receive irregular or inadequate service. As a result, vast amounts of waste go uncollected each year – 196 kilotons, according to the CSIR (2022). With limited alternatives, communities resort to illegal dumping or burning waste, leading to severe environmental and health consequences. At the same time, landfill space is running out, and most municipal dumps are failing to meet environmental regulations.

Nova is addressing this challenge by setting up small-scale waste management facilities that are designed to be practical, adaptable, and community-led. Currently operating in two communities in North West and Limpopo provinces, Nova’s waste management model services 28,000 people. To date, Nova’s waste management services have diverted 574,610 kgs of recyclable and compostable materials from landfills.

Nova’s waste management initiatives have led to quantifiable improvements in air quality, making them a viable and measurable option for industry partners seeking effective offsetting strategies to meet air quality licencing requirements.

Using GIS mapping tools, optimal service block sizes are determined and each stand (a collection of households sharing a plot) is provided with three bins to enable separation of different waste streams at source (S@S). Residents are trained on sorting their domestic waste correctly, and local teams are established to process and track waste flows. Crucially, informal waste pickers – who have long provided part of this valuable service, albeit informally – are incorporated into the programme, ensuring they are not displaced but instead recognised as key players in the system. Digital monitoring tools enable oversight at every level, from community sorting facilities to individual households.

Once systems are running smoothly and tailored to local conditions, Nova supports the transition of these waste management programmes to locally managed non-profit companies. A hands-on, structured, year-long incubation process ensures that local teams can take full ownership of operations, creating a long-term, maintainable solution.

Beyond these community-based initiatives, Nova is also exploring ways to strengthen and complement existing municipal waste management services, working towards more integrated and effective waste solutions.