SA Affordable Housing May - June 2019 // Issue: 76 | Page 7

NEWS
*The South African Government recognises the role that
waste plays in creating jobs and providing socio-economic
opportunities and in moving South Africa towards a more
resource efficient economy. This is evident in the number
of initiatives and legislative reforms that have been
proposed by government to boost growth in this sector.
*Source: Green Cape 2018 Waste Market Intelligence Report
THE PRODUCT AND PROCESS
Ecoblocks are innovative, environmentally friendly products that
incorporate regenerated waste plastic particles combined with a
standard sand-cement mixture.
single-use plastics by 2030 – a goal inspired by the
2015 Paris Agreement on voluntary reductions of
carbon emissions.
"Plastic is a very good material, it's durable, flexible and
light," says Siim Kiisler, UN Environment Assembly president
and Estonia's environment minister. "This means we should
make the best out of it for as long as possible instead of
disposing of it."
WHY SOUTH AFRICA?
South Africa currently consumes 1.5Mt of plastic annually,
of which only 21% is recycled. The rest ends up in land fill,
in rivers, on beaches and in our oceans. A recycling
programme is urgently needed.
Cleaning up plastic is not an easy task and it costs money
to manage waste; all this bad news does not make for happy
reading. At the same time, industry and commerce, retailers
and consumers are seeking better ways to work with plastic
and most assume that the abolition or drastic reduction of
the culprit plastic is the best solution.
Thompson used to be consumed by a hatred for plastic,
until he realised that it was necessary to work with, and
within, the plastic industry to combat the enormous waste
problem. After an arduous and interesting journey of
anti-plastic activism, Thompson, an engineer, entrepreneur
and environmentalist, invented a product that uses plastic
in all and any waste form.
At a time when the world is in outcry about ‘tragic plastic’
in our oceans, the CRDC that also works with the Ocean
Recovery Alliance, has created not only a foolproof solution
but also a game-changer for using plastic waste in a
commercially viable manner. By delivering an effective
environmental solution, EcoArena also provides a compelling
answer to some of South Africa’s societal problems.
CRDC will test EcoArena PRA with two major concrete
manufacturers in the Western Cape as well as a major South
African cement producer. Thompson adds, “In South Africa,
there is an established and sophisticated cement industry.
Against this, we need to create jobs, we need to clean up
the environment and there is an urgent need for housing.
Our plan is to use the Costa Rican model to initially
launch in the Western Cape before rolling out the
initiative nationally.”
Thompson explains that Costa Rica is a small market (five
million people) compared to South Africa, which is more
developed and has as many if not more pressing social
needs. The long-term plan for EcoArena is to take it to the
first world.
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
EcoArena incorporates regenerated waste plastic particles
with a standard sand-cement mixture to create a highly
resistant, durable cement, concrete block or any formed
concrete product. Each block contains 260g of plastic, none
of which needs to be separated, cleaned or treated in any
way – even if it contains sand or is contaminated. Very little
water is used in the process. The resultant block represents
a five to 10% decrease in total weight compared to a
standard concrete block.
The process begins upon the disposal and recovery of
the waste plastic, after which the obtained material is
converted to a solid mass via heat extrusion. It is then
ground to the required particle specifications. After this
processing phase, the resulting mixed-polymer aggregate is
incorporated directly into a mixer with a sand-cement
mixture. Once a homogeneous mixture is achieved the
moulding process for creating the standard block begins
and emerges, showing no visible difference from traditional
concrete aggregates.
The subsequent product is equal in terms of resistance
and mechanical characteristics to a traditional concrete
block – the only difference is that it is considerably lighter
and stronger. While effectively using a large quantity of
plastic waste and eliminating it from landfills with the
attendant benefits of also reducing CO 2 emissions.
EcoArena helps to reduce carbon footprints for
municipalities, plastic manufacturers and the cement and
concrete industries.
Thompson explains, “The objective is to create a
platform where single-use plastics may be transitioned into
a supply stream for high-quality construction materials
while providing a solution to two of the world’s most
pressing issues: the recovery of waste plastics from the
environment and the global housing deficit. Every sector of
society, including the underprivileged and homeless,
stands to benefit from the application of this innovation
and plan.”
TAKEAWAYS
1. The South African waste management landscape is set
to experience a raft of legislative and regulatory
changes that will advance the country towards a more
resource-efficient economy. This will create
opportunities for business and investors in the waste
sector who focus on plastics, organics, e-waste and
construction and demolition waste.
2. The promulgation of the paper and packaging IndWMP
will unlock greater volumes of clean feedstocks and
more business support for the sector, with additional
support likely through Operation Phakisa. There is a
need for thermal treatment technologies for dirty mixed
plastics, refuse derived fuels (RDF) and thermoform PET.
Source: The Green Cape Market Intelligence Report 2018
MAY - JUNE 2019
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