Oricol Environmental Services has officially commissioned a new composting site near Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal – a major milestone in the company’s mission to turn waste into a resource and support sustainable waste management across South Africa.
This is the first Oricol composting site in KZN authorised to handle more than 10 tonnes of food and organic waste per day, and it comes at a critical time. With a regional ban on food waste to municipal landfill already in place and a national ban expected within the next few years, businesses need compliant, cost-effective solutions that align with both regulation and sustainability goals.
Supporting the Circular Economy
The Verulam composting site was granted final approval in June following a comprehensive inspection by the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA). It forms part of Oricol’s broader strategy to help clients reduce landfill dependency and contribute to a circular economy.
“KZN businesses have been looking for sustainable ways to deal with food and organic waste,” said Andrew Fernandes, KZN Regional Manager at Oricol. “This site gives them exactly that – a permitted, transparent, and environmentally sound solution that fits into their ESG and sustainability commitments.”
The facility uses aerated static pile composting in windrows (see image above), a controlled and effective method that ensures optimal decomposition while meeting all government and municipal environmental regulations. The site includes approved systems for managing stormwater and leachate runoff, ensuring full compliance and minimal environmental impact.
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- The office at the entrance of the new composting site.
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- Compost Site Supervisor Sabelo Khambule oversees the daily operations of the facility.
From Food Waste to Soil Enrichment
Organic waste streams accepted at the site include materials generated by the food and beverage, hospitality, paper and pulp, warehousing, and logistics sectors. If waste arrives in packaging, it is first depackaged at Oricol’s headquarters, where the packaging is sent for recycling. The unpackaged waste is then delivered to the composting site.
The facility spans 20,000m² with plans allowing for future expansion. Over time, various grades of compost will be produced, with the higher-quality grades being refined and sold to the agriculture industry for soil conditioning.
While composting is a valuable tool in the waste management hierarchy, Fernandes notes that it is not the first option.
“Where possible, we prioritise converting food waste into animal feed, which is higher up in the waste hierarchy,” he said. “But when that’s not viable, composting allows us to keep waste out of landfill and return value to the soil. It’s just one more way we’re turning waste into a resource.”
For Clients: A Compliant and Transparent Solution
The new composting service is now available to Oricol clients. In addition to compliant processing, businesses will benefit from detailed reporting on the volume of waste composted and the associated environmental impact, supporting their ESG reporting and sustainability objectives.
As landfill space becomes increasingly limited and legislation tightens, the opening of this permitted composting site provides a proactive solution for businesses committed to responsible waste management.
- Contact us to find out more about Oricol’s food waste and organic waste management
