HAMMARSDALE WASTE BENEFICIATION CENTRE DRIVES GREEN JOBS AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
- Dylan Naidoo
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Hammarsdale Waste Beneficiation Centre is playing a critical role in transforming waste into economic opportunity, supporting green jobs, enterprise development, and sustainable innovation in eThekwini.
Members of the City’s Economic Development and Planning (ECOD) Committee yesterday, 5 March, conducted an oversight visit to the facility to assess the impact of the Municipality’s circular economy initiatives.
The visit was led by the Chairperson of the ECOD Committee, Councillor Thembo Ntuli.
The Committee assessed the progress and impact of the Municipality’s circular economy initiatives, which aim to transform waste streams into economic opportunities while promoting enterprise development, skills transfer, and the creation of green jobs.
The Hammarsdale Waste Beneficiation Centre forms part of eThekwini Municipality’s Waste Circular Programme, developed in partnership with USE-IT.
The facility operates as a green innovation hub, supporting waste diversion from landfills, small, medium and micro enterprise (SMMEs) incubation, alternative building technologies, and climate-aligned local economic development.
During the guided tour, key initiatives were showcased, including waste aggregation buy-back operations, enterprise incubation support for SMMEs, responsible e-waste dismantling for value recovery, and compliant battery recycling processes.
The oversight visit also included a viewing of alternative building technology demonstration structures, highlighting performance testing, skills development, and technical oversight.
Councillor Ntuli said the work taking place in Hammarsdale represents a significant shift in the Municipality’s approach to economic development.
“This centre demonstrates how waste can be transformed from an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity by supporting entrepreneurship and creating green jobs. This initiative aligns directly with our Municipal priorities of promoting sustainable growth, infrastructure innovation, and community upliftment,” he said.
Managing Director of USE-IT Belinda Putterill said the programme’s focus is not only on job creation but on developing sustainable employers.
“Our aim is not simply to create jobs, but to develop sustainable employers. Once these businesses become stable and successful, they can create further employment opportunities downstream within the value chain,” she said.
The Municipality’s three-year partnership with USE-IT focuses on key deliverables such as waste diversion from landfill, enterprise incubation and SMME development, alternative building technologies, and climate-aligned local economic development.
Since the programme’s inception nine years ago, the Municipality and USE-IT have facilitated more than 2 600 job opportunities in the waste beneficiation sector for residents of eThekwini.
