Case Study: Waste to Food

Creating Economic Opportunities by Recycling Food Waste

Waste to Food (W2F), located in Cape Town's Philippi Township, has developed a combination of technologies to overcome the widespread disposal of organic waste to landfills in South Africa, while at the same time contributing to employment and food security. Food waste is recycled into commercial high-quality vermicompost and this organic compost is then sold to commercial clients. The compost is also directly applied in community food gardens and in the W2F greenhouse to increase the production of organic vegetables, which are then consumed by the local community and sold back to retailers. By employing people from the Philippi Township and training them to become independent compost entrepreneurs and gardeners, W2F offers new livelihood opportunities to address poverty in the community.

SEED 2016 Case Study Series

This case study is enhanced with short multimedia features that showcase the innovation, the partnership, the support from SEED and the overall impact of the enterprise. It is part of the SEED 2016 Case Study Series. This Case Study Series showcases locally-driven, innovative eco-inclusive enterprises which are demonstrating sustainable development on the ground across Africa.