ORICOL BIOGAS

Addressing the urgent need for organic waste diversion, Oricol Environmental Services and Cape Town Biogas have partnered to transform how the Western Cape handles organic waste, moving beyond simple disposal to a true zero-waste-to-landfill outcome.

The two companies participate in an organic waste diversion pathway anchored by a bio-digestion facility in Athlone. This facility, which serves various waste management providers, is currently the only plant in Africa capable of splitting biogas into two distinct, high-value output streams simultaneously. Altogether, the process transforms incoming organic waste into three recoverable commodities: clean-burning biomethane for energy use, beverage-grade CO2 for the food and beverage industry, and bio-available nutrients for agricultural soil restoration.

The journey from waste to resource begins at Oricol's treatment facility in Cape Town, where expired or off-spec products undergo a secure de-packaging process. This step is vital for brand protection, as it ensures non-compliant products cannot re-enter the market. While solid packaging is shredded for recycling, organic waste is recovered and sent via an offtake agreement to the bio-digester. Through this partnership, approximately 8000 tonnes of organic waste was processed in 2025.

The Draft National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) 2026, published in December 2025, formally designates organic waste as a priority waste stream for urgent national intervention for the first time in South Africa's waste regulatory history.

In the Western Cape, regulatory pressure is mounting for many commercial sectors. The province's 100% organic waste landfill ban, embedded directly into waste management licences, takes effect in 2027. Businesses that have not secured diversion pathways before that deadline face compliance risks.

www.oricoles.co.za