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South African cities, like many globally, struggle with waste management and shrinking landfills. Small recycling centers and informal waste pickers offer a solution by easing the waste system’s burden and creating jobs. However, they face challenges integrating into the formal economy, especially navigating government procurement processes that favor larger companies. As a result, local entities are being displaced.
Despite this, case studies from Drakenstein, eThekwini, Cape Town, and Worcester highlight innovative ways to support small businesses in recycling. These examples offer potential models for other African cities to integrate small enterprises into the circular economy, addressing a significant gap in global research.
Local South worked with the Economic Development Partnership to develop this set of practical case studies.
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