Circular Energy
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBallito, South Africa
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Circular Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Circular Energy
- Legal name
- Circular Energy NPC
- Website
- https://circular-energy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Circular Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ballito
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Circular Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- EPR Membership Fees: Annual EPR fees collected from producer members (importers, manufacturers, resellers) to fund collection, recycling, and waste management obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. Fees are disbursed to the supply value chain including waste management service providers.
- Producer Registration Fees: Registration fees for producers to join the PRO and comply with DFFE EPR regulations. Includes producer advisory board oversight and annual fee concurrence process.
- General Membership Fees: Membership fees from small, medium, and large enterprises, government institutions, academia, individual members, installers, and resellers of renewable energy technologies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Paper Packaging Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Plastic Packaging Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Metal Packaging Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Lighting and Lighting Equipment Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Electrical and Electronic Equipment Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Renewable Energy Products Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Portable Battery Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Lubricant Oil Fees 2024/2025 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Circular Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Circular Energy operates a DFFE-registered Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that helps producers (importers, manufacturers, refurbishers, resellers, and e-commerce sellers) comply with South Africa's Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. The company runs a nationwide take-back system for electrical and electronic equipment, lighting, batteries, and packaging, supported by retail drop-off points at Woolworths, Hirsch's, and Spar stores, and a free Give It Back consumer collection service. EPR fees collected from member producers are disbursed to accredited waste management service partners for collection, recycling, and environmentally sound processing.
Product overview
Circular Energy is a not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) offering a unified compliance and collection platform for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in South Africa. The core offering comprises a nationwide take-back system for e-waste, lighting, batteries, and packaging, supported by collection services (both scheduled pickups and drop-off networks at retail partners), EPR compliance support for producers, fee management, and skills development programs. The company connects waste generators (consumers, businesses) with accredited recycling partners through a network of approved collection points and service providers, facilitating regulatory compliance under DFFE EPR regulations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Take-Back System for E-Waste Collection Nationwide take-back system for the collection, recycling, and environmentally sound processing of electrical and electronic equipment, lighting equipment, batteries, and packaging waste from end-of-life products. Available to producers and consumers across South Africa.
- EPR Compliance Support Compliance support services helping producers (manufacturers, importers, resellers, refurbishers, e-commerce sellers) meet Extended Producer Responsibility regulations by registering with DFFE and the PRO. Includes ongoing compliance management under EPR scheme notices for Portable Battery, EEE, Lighting, Paper/Packaging, and Lubricant Oil sectors.
- Give It Back Collection Service Free nationwide collection service for unwanted electric and electronic items, lighting equipment, and batteries where consumers can request collection through the website form submission. Available to South African households and individuals.
- Drop-off Point Network Network of drop-off locations at partner retail stores including Woolworths, Spar, and Hirsch's Homestores for domestic portable batteries and small household lamps across all South African provinces.
- Waste Management Service Partner Network Approved collection and recycling partner network across South Africa including waste management companies and recyclers for processing collected materials. Partners are funded through EPR fees disbursed by Circular Energy.
- EPR Fee Management Fee collection and disbursement services under strict confidentiality and data privacy protocols, with modulated or eco-modulated methodologies for identified products. Fees are calculated based on product weight, recyclability, material demand, collection, treatment, and administrative costs.
- Skills Development Programs Training and skills development initiatives with emphasis on women, youth, and people living with disabilities, including support for repair and refurbishment training in the e-waste sector.
- SAWIC Registration Support Assistance service for producers to register with the South African Waste Information Centre (SAWIC) as required by EPR regulations under the DFFE.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of e-waste can be recycled, reclaimed, or treated and beneficiated
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Circular Energy
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Circular Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Circular Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PV CYCLEcoreStrategic partnership with European PRO renowned for photovoltaic panel expertise. Aims to establish pioneering industry benchmarks for comprehensive solar PV recycling in South Africa, ensure compliance with Producer Responsibility legislation, and offer cost-efficient recycling through combined expertise.
- Hirsch's HomestorescorePartnership with the largest independently owned appliance and electronics outlet in South Africa to assist customers in ethically disposing of end-of-use appliances. Collection points established at branches nationwide. Hirsch's also provides take-back service during new appliance delivery.
- WoolworthscorePartnership for management of Woolworths' dedicated in-store hazardous waste recycling containers for portable batteries and CFL lamps. Woolworths is an EPR-compliant member of Circular Energy, committing to proper recycling and responsible management of products after use. Drop-off points available at selected stores nationwide.
- IWMSA (Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa)coreCollaborative member representing the waste management profession in Southern Africa. Hosted ISWA2024 Conference in Cape Town focusing on moving Africa from waste to wealth.
- SAEE ConfederationcoreCollaborative member - South African Electrical and Electronic Engineering industry association.
- SAPVIAcoreCollaborative member - South African Photovoltaic Industry Association representing solar PV stakeholders.
- Prevent Waste AlliancecoreCollaborative partner focused on waste prevention and circular economy initiatives.
- WEEE ForumcoreCollaborative partner - international association of e-waste producer responsibility organizations sharing knowledge and best practices.
- WWF South AfricacoreCollaborative partner - World Wildlife Fund environmental organization.
- FSE WastecoreWaste management service partner for collection and recycling services.
- Basadi E-WastecoreE-waste management service partner for collection and recycling services.
- EnviroServcoreEnvironmental waste management services partner for collection and recycling.
- Indalo E-WastecoreE-waste management partner for collection and recycling.
- TCB (Taking Care of Business)coreSkills development partner teaching unemployed people how to repair appliances and electronic goods. Provides 12-month training programs for approximately 10 young people annually.
- VodacomcorePartnership to reduce e-waste in South Africa. Vodacom leading green revolution through Eco-Warriors Sustainability Competition and e-waste collection initiatives.
- SPARminorRetail drop-off point partner for battery and lamp collection at Spar stores.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Circular Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Customer concentration
Circular Energy social profiles
Digital presenceCircular Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Circular Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Circular Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Circular Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Circular Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Circular Energy
What does Circular Energy do?
Circular Energy operates a DFFE-registered Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that helps producers (importers, manufacturers, refurbishers, resellers, and e-commerce sellers) comply with South Africa's Extended Producer Responsibility regulations. The company runs a nationwide take-back system for electrical and electronic equipment, lighting, batteries, and packaging, supported by retail drop-off points at Woolworths, Hirsch's, and Spar stores, and a free Give It Back consumer collection service. EPR fees collected from member producers are disbursed to accredited waste management service partners for collection, recycling, and environmentally sound processing.
Is Circular Energy a public or private company?
Circular Energy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Circular Energy founded?
Circular Energy was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Circular Energy based?
Circular Energy is headquartered in Ballito, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Circular Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. EPR Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are producer Registration Fees and general Membership Fees.
Does Circular Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Circular Energy.