“Using waste to create jobs and build sustainable green homes ”

21-22 July 2015

NCPC Industrial Efficiency Conference:

CHRIS WHYTE: 031-7652349 – 0824158138

ChrisWhyte@use-it.co.za

Industrial Symbiosis & Waste Management

Background to USE-IT &

relationship with eThekwini:

• USE-IT is a Section 21 NPC established in 2009 under an MoA

with eThekwini Municipality.

• USE-IT’s mandate is to create jobs through waste diversion from

landfill and the development of waste beneficiation projects

• To date USE-IT is a cost-negative operation saving eThekwini

more than R2 for every Rand of operational funding received

• USE-IT has facilitated the creation of 2235 jobs (371 direct jobs,

1766 indirect jobs and 98 contract jobs) and leveraged more than

11 times the operational funding in public and private sector

project funding.

• The Compressed Earth Block project is one of our Flagship

Projects – essentially we target waste soils and blend with waste

rubble and use hydraulic compression to make blocks.

Conventional View on

Recycling:

Plastic Tyres

OrganicsTextiles

E-Waste

Paper Metals

Glass

The reality is that national average for soil

waste and builder’s rubble constitutes 25-40%

of waste going to landfill:

Housing delivery realities:

• The Housing backlog in eThekwini currently stands at around

408,000 units and there are about 34,700 units that require

demolishing, rebuilding or rehabilitation (www.cornubia.co.za 28 Jan 2014)

• Current delivery rate is 6500 units per year or 1.6% of the

backlog per year

• Considering the urbanisation growth rate at a conservative 2.5%

per year, the backlog will continue to grow unless we look at new

ways of tackling the problem

• We believe the eThekwini-funded project on Compressed Earth

Blocks can contribute to solving the problem

• The national housing delivery rate fell by 25% in the past five

years and the backlog stands at 2.3-million - Human Settlements

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu (July 2014).

Advantages of Compressed Earth Blocks:

• CEB’s used successfully in more than 23 countries. Currently have

local Agrément certification, SABS, NHBRC & CIDB approval

• Using available soils with a 7-50 % clay component (stockpile)

• Fire-proof, bullet-proof, insect resistant, earthquake resistant

• 3 to 5 times stronger than minimum compressive strength

requirements for structural masonry blocks and up to 10 times more

thermally efficient than cement blocks

• CEB’s proven to cost at least 16% less than conventional methods

• Building process is faster and cheaper – no mortar, no firing or

curing of blocks

• Up to 8 tons of Carbon saved per 50m2 of construction (UNEP)

• Multiple benefits – creation of jobs, local skills development,

delivery on housing backlog, energy efficient sustainable housing,

waste soil and builder’s rubble solutions, affordable, comfortable,

healthy, etc.

Mobile equipment:Mixer and Blender

Block Compressor

Full system comprise mixers,

hydraulic compressors, cutters,

soil test kits and spares

Basically, we use available suitable or waste soils and up to 30% crushed rubble

that we blend with 5% cementTo the mixer

Earth block productTo block

machine

Available soil

Familiar methods to install

windows and door frames, arches,

lintels and supports

We use a soil slurry, and not brick

force mortar to join the blocks

The USE-IT Earth Block building system 50m2 unit :

FACT: At 30% crushed builder’s rubble in our blocks, Western Cape produces enough

rubble each year to produce 100,000 eco-friendly affordable houses per year

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In addition to the blocks we use building components made from recycled waste:

Roof tiles, skirting, cornicing,

decking/flooring, piping, guttering,

barge boards, etc.

Each divert waste, create industry in

remanufacturing and jobs

In February 2015 we established a production facility in Stellenbosch

CEB production in Stellenbosch

In Stellenbosch we have 115,000m3 of soil available in one stockpile:

This one soil stockpile in Stellenbosch

can make 22 million blocks enough for

7300 low-income homes, and there are

more suitable soils available locally

destined for fill that could increase this

number many times.

All from the waste we are throwing

away, so a 100% recycled block. Current production in Stellenbosch

In Cornubia (eThekwini) we have a mountain of soil being sent to spoil

Wasting more than half a million tons

of great-quality soil that could be

used to make 52 million blocks or

enough for 15,000 houses of 50m2.

All from the waste we are throwing

away, so a 100% recycled block.

Most of Cornubia could be built

Green, cheaper and stronger

Phase 2 will generate 4 million m3 of waste soil – enough to build 160,000 houses!!

• What’s wrong with this picture?? One development in eThekwini on

mixed land use and an estimated 28,000 low-cost houses is creating

enough soil waste from platforming operations to build 175,000

houses that would be cheaper, stronger, greener and better than the

hollow concrete blocks being used for their construction. The current

planned destination for these waste soils is Buffelsdraai landfill 11km

away at a cost of hundreds of millions using valuable landfill airspace

that would cost another R1.2 billion

• Compressed Earth Block homes would:

• Save transport costs of waste

• Save landfill airspace and cost

• Be 3-5 times stronger

• Be at least 20% cheaper

• Be at least 3 times more thermally efficient

• Save 8t CO2e per 50m2 build – low carbon footprint

• Be soundproof, bulletproof, insect proof and waterproof

• Which option would you choose? A simple and proven application of

Industrial Symbiosis and Waste Management

Industrial symbiosis is a no-brainer…