The South African waste economy shows that the potential contribution of waste to gross domestic product (GDP) is significant if the materials currently being lost to landfills can be recovered and used. Emphasis on transitioning to the circular economy is therefore crucial to encourage the minimizing and managing of waste using resource efficiency in the materials value chain, including in materials flow. The circular economy approach provides a means of stimulating the production economy, creating employment and addressing resource efficiencies while at the same time protecting the environment.