The amount of waste going to landfills or polluting the environment is hugely underestimated due to a lack of reliable data, putting South Africa “at risk of turning into a wasteland”. Johannesburg generates about 1.6 million tons of waste annually, a majority of which goes to landfill. Three out of four landfill sites are approaching their full capacity, with less than 10 years disposal time left. To avoid adding more landfill sites, it is suggested that Johannesburg must move away from a waste-to-landfill model. Lerato Mbele was joined by Malcolm Mogotsi, Department of forestry, fisheries and the environment Acting Chief Director: Integrated Waste Management and Stacey Jansen, Director at Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa.