Ahead of the global celebration of International E-Waste Day on 14 October 2026, the E-Waste Recycling Authority NPC (ERA NPC) is pleased to announce its annual conference, the South Africa 2026 Local Circularity Summit and E-Waste Festival, hosted in partnership with TheRockGroup.

As South Africa’s premier Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) leading the charge for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the circular economy, ERA NPC is bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and communities to transform material flows into local value, new businesses, and employment.

The two-day event will take place on 12 and 13 October 2026 at Maker’s Landing, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Members of the media, industry stakeholders, and the public are invited to register to attend via the following link Register Here.

Conference Focus and Highlights

The South Africa 2026 Local Circularity Summit and E-Waste Festival provides a dedicated platform for those focused on building resilient local economies:

• Day 1: Exploring the WEEE Landscape - An in-depth look at South Africa’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) sector, covering evolving regulations, producer responsibility, and key waste management themes.
• Day 2: Circular Economy in Action - Practical solutions and collaborative strategies for building resilient systems that generate lasting value for people, nature, and business.
• National Tech & E-Waste Drive - In partnership with DIGICIRCLE4ALL, attendees and the public are invited to bring their unwanted electronic devices to the venue for responsible recycling and re-use.

The event features a dynamic programme including plenaries, interactive breakout sessions, expos, and challenges designed to move the sector from discussion to direct action.

Reflecting on Five Years of Extended Producer Responsibility

The summit arrives at a pivotal moment for environmental governance in South Africa, marking five years since the formal implementation of EPR regulations.

"We have reached an important point in the development of Extended Producer Responsibility in South Africa," says Ashley du Plooy, CEO of ERA NPC. "Five years gives us enough experience to look honestly at what is working, where the gaps remain, and what needs to change if the system is going to deliver the outcomes it was intended to deliver. For ERA NPC, this conference is about having that conversation openly and constructively. We need better data, stronger compliance, clearer accountability and a system that recognises the role of every actor in the value chain. But we also need to look beyond compliance. The opportunity now is to use EPR as part of a broader circular economy approach, one that keeps products and materials in use, creates local value and makes the system work better for everyone. The next phase should be about turning what we have learned into practical changes that can be implemented." 

Strategic Partnership for Circular Progress

By combining ERA NPC’s deep industry experience and EPR leadership with TheRockGroup’s broader systems perspective, the partnership aims to bridge policy, innovation, and practical market opportunities.

"The partnership between TheRockGroup and ERA is important because South Africa’s circular economy cannot be built in silos," states Karin Boomsma, Associate Partner South Africa for TheRockGroup. "ERA brings deep industry experience and a critical understanding of Extended Producer Responsibility, while TheRockGroup brings a broader systems and circular economy perspective. Together, we can connect policy and implementation with the practical opportunities for innovation, enterprise development and local value creation. This collaboration is particularly relevant now, as South Africa reaches a critical point in its first five-year EPR cycle and looks towards what comes next. It is an opportunity to move beyond compliance and start building the connected, resilient circular systems that can deliver value for people, nature and business."

Boomsma adds: "What we would like this year’s conference to achieve is a shift from conversation to collaboration and from ideas to implementation. We want participants to leave not only with a better understanding of where South Africa’s circular economy stands, but with clearer priorities, new partnerships and practical opportunities to act. The real outcome should be connections that continue beyond the conference - between government, industry, entrepreneurs, communities and investors - and the emergence of practical initiatives that create jobs, unlock local value from resources and strengthen resilience. Ultimately, we want this conference to demonstrate that circularity is not simply a sustainability ambition; it is a practical economic opportunity that South Africa can act on now."