Overview of the CSIR Waste RDI Roadmap Initiative

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa has been at the forefront of transforming the nation's waste sector through its Waste Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap. Launched in 2015 by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), this 10-year strategy aimed to guide public and private investments in waste-related R&D, with an ambitious funding target of R3.9 billion. Although actual funding reached R125 million, the initiative catalyzed significant progress, funding 71 grant projects across 17 institutions, including 14 universities and three science councils.

Over the decade from 2015 to 2024, the roadmap focused on diverting waste from landfills toward high-value recovery, fostering a circular economy. South Africa generates over 125 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with much ending up in landfills. The roadmap addressed this by prioritizing five key waste streams: municipal solid waste, electronic waste (WEEE), plastics, organic waste from agriculture and agro-processing, and waste tyres. These efforts not only reduced environmental burdens but also unlocked economic opportunities through innovation.

The CSIR, as the implementation host via the Waste RDI Roadmap Implementation Unit (WRIU), played a pivotal role in coordinating grants, human capital development, and technology deployment. This decade-long push aligns with national goals like the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) 2020, which targets diverting 40% of waste from landfills within five years.

Key Milestones in a Decade of Waste R&D

From its inception, the Waste RDI Roadmap marked several milestones. In the early years, emphasis was on baseline research and capacity building, evolving to demonstration projects by 2023/24. Notable achievements include supporting 86 postgraduate graduations, with 35 students funded in the final year alone across masters, PhDs, and postdocs.

By 2023/24, the portfolio peaked at R35.5 million in grants, funding 38 active projects and engaging 186 researchers. Outputs surged, with 58 deliverables including 18 journal papers, 14 dissertations, and 17 conference presentations. Gender equity improved among students (54% female), and racial transformation advanced (60% Black students funded).

The roadmap's clusters—Strategic Planning, Modelling and Analytics, Technology Solutions, Waste Logistics, Waste and Environment, and Waste and Society—guided investments. For instance, 32% of funding went to modelling for better waste flow analytics, while 29% targeted technologies like recycling processes.

• 2015: Roadmap launch and initial grants awarded.
• 2020: Amid COVID-19, focus shifted to resilient waste systems.
• 2023: Launch of Circular Innovation South Africa (CISA) for broader circular economy support.
• 2024: 14 new grants, including eight demonstration projects.

These milestones positioned South Africa as a leader in African waste innovation, contributing to global circular economy discourse.

Priority Waste Streams and Targeted Interventions

The roadmap zeroed in on high-impact waste streams ripe for valorization. Organic waste, dominant in municipal solid waste, saw projects on biorefineries converting agri-waste into biofuels and fertilizers. Plastics, a persistent pollutant, benefited from advanced recycling and biodegradable alternatives.

E-waste (WEEE) initiatives improved dismantling and material recovery, addressing toxic leaks. Waste tyres fueled energy recovery and rubber repurposing, while construction waste enabled green building materials.

These streams accounted for most grants, driving landfill diversion. For context, only 9-10% of waste like Johannesburg's is currently diverted, highlighting the roadmap's urgency.

Technological Breakthroughs Driving Change

CSIR-led innovations stand out. Biodegradable mulch films (BDMs), trialed on Eastern Cape pineapple farms, fully degrade into CO2, water, and biomass, slashing microplastic pollution. Unlike conventional plastics, BDMs match yield while enhancing soil health.

NonCrete, a zero-carbon modular roofing and flooring system from construction waste, reduces emissions in human settlements. Green Bricks use recovered demolition waste and glass for interlocking blocks, promoting affordable housing.

Other gems: needle felting for textile-to-textile recycling at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and ultrafiltration membranes for wastewater reclamation. These technologies, often demonstrated via R14 million in 2023/24 funds, bridge lab to market, with one grant unlocking R5 million in private investment.

CSIR Biodegradable Mulch Films Brochure

Photo by Collab Media on Unsplash

Building Human Capital Through University Partnerships

A cornerstone of the CSIR Waste R&D Decade is skills development. Scholarships and mentorships supported diverse postgrads at universities like Stellenbosch University (SU), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), North-West University (NWU), and Nelson Mandela University (NMU). SARChI Chairs mentored 35 students, fostering expertise in circular technologies.

Equity focus: 77% South African students, 23% African international. This aligns with higher education goals, producing researchers for research jobs in waste innovation. Over 100 students graduated, bolstering SA's RDI pipeline amid high youth unemployment.

Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts

Impacts ripple across sectors. Environmentally, innovations cut landfill methane—key for SA's NDC methane reduction—and microplastics. Economically, waste valorization creates jobs; waste pickers recover 80-90% of recyclables, and roadmap projects seed SMMEs.

Socially, projects like circular farms at SU address food waste (10.3Mt edible annually lost). Overall, potential GDP boost via resource efficiency, with demonstration funds targeting manufacturing (36%) and agriculture (18%).

• Landfill diversion: Aiming 20-60% reduction in industrial/domestic waste.
• Jobs: Roadmap identifies opportunities in prevention/reuse/recovery.
• Health: Reduced pollution from e-waste/plastics.

CSIR's food waste study revealed 45-56% supply wasted, informing policy.

Collaborations Fueling National Progress

Partnerships amplified reach: DSTI/DFFE/dtic, NRF/TIA, IWMSA, and internationals like UNEP/FAO/CSIRO. Universities hosted 80% projects, blending academia-industry.

Website metrics: 16k visits in 2023/24, global interest from Zimbabwe/Indonesia. CISA (2023) extends to non-waste circularity.

For career seekers, explore higher ed career advice on RDI roles.

Transition to Circular Economy STI Strategy

The decade culminates in merging into DSTI's Circular Economy Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy (2025-2035). The March 3-5, 2026 conference showcases outcomes, discussing value from organics/e-waste/plastics.

This shift emphasizes indicators, LCA for EPR, GHG mitigation—building on 71 projects' evidence.

Photo by Adil Edin on Unsplash

Case Studies: From Lab to Land

Biodegradable Mulch Films (CSIR): Field trials show yield parity, full soil breakdown—replacing 100% plastic mulches.

Green Bricks (CSIR): Interlocking blocks from C&D waste/glass for low-cost housing.

Textile Recycling (CPUT): Needle felting scales SMME recycling.

Circular Farm (SU): One-hectare hub demos waste loops.

These validate roadmap efficacy, with policy briefs influencing NWMS.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Funding shortfall (3% of ask) limited scale, yet leveraged impacts. Challenges: informal sector integration, enforcement.

Future: Scale demos, private uptake via funds. Conference to chart 2025-2035 path, eyeing jobs in South African higher ed jobs.

Optimistic: Circular shift promises sustainability, growth. Stakeholders urge RDI boost for net-zero.

Check rate my professor for waste experts at partner unis.