Overview of Potential Sources and Volumes of Waste Biomass in South Africa

Abstract

Global trends in waste management suggest that economic opportunities exist for waste as secondary resources, and waste biomass is no exception. Large quantities of waste biomass are being generated by the agricultural sector, agro-processing and paper and pulp industries in South Africa. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) (i.e., garden waste, food waste, paper and wood waste) is also a potential source of waste biomass. There is, however, very little separation at source taking place in South Africa, which could unlock this resource. The agricultural and agro-processing sector utilises waste biomass as animal feed or to generate electricity, mostly for on-site consumption by the local sugar and paper mills. Other opportunities for waste biomass valorisation also exist through the extraction of valuable compounds and the production of liquid fuels through biorefineries. To realise the potential of waste biomass as a secondary resource, it is important to know where the waste is generated, in what quantities it is generated and what is required to unlock these resources. This chapter therefore attempts to shed some light on the available waste biomass resources in South Africa, the relative geographic distribution of the waste and some valorisation opportunities.