R548m Grant Boost for Joburg’s Green Waste Project

The City of Johannesburg has secured a ma jor grant of €27.5 million (approximately R548 million) from Invest International Pub lic Programmes, a leading Dutch development f inance institution, to advance its Alternative Waste Treatment Technology (AWTT) Project. The grant agreement was signed on 8 Oc tober 2025 in Sandton, on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministerial. According to Capital Asset Project Integra tion Consultants (CAPIC), the AWTT Project aims to develop a state-of-the-art recycling and waste-to-energy facility designed to significantly reduce landfill waste. The total project cost is estimated at around R5 billion. The signing ceremony was attended by the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Aukje de Vries, alongside rep resentatives from Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and the City of Johannesburg. Executive Mayor Dada Morero expressed gratitude to Invest International and the King dom of the Netherlands, describing the grant as a milestone in Johannesburg’s transition to sustainable waste management. “I extend our deepest gratitude to Invest International and the Kingdom of the Nether lands for this generous grant. This is more than funding — it is a power ful endorsement of our vision for a greener Johannesburg and a tangible commitment to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition,” Morero said. He added that the AWTT Project will rev olutionise how the city handles waste, while also delivering social and economic benefits. “Beyond environmental benefits, the pro ject will bring about meaningful social and economic transformation. It will uplift waste picker communities, create green jobs, pro mote gender inclusion, and stimulate local innovation through circular economy solu tions,” he said. Morero noted that the project will serve as a cornerstone of the City’s Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP), aligning with both the National Waste Management Strate gy and South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) objectives. “Our focus is to drastically reduce landfill dependency, promote recycling and reuse, and harness renewable energy from waste,” he added. The partnership between Johannesburg, Invest International, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Infrastructure South Afri ca marks a significant step toward building a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive urban future.