IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa

What IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa does

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is a multi-disciplinary non-profit professional association founded in September 1976 by five solid waste managers in Randburg, South Africa. It operates as the dedicated professional body for waste management practitioners across Southern Africa, serving individual professionals (consultants, academics, contractors), waste-sector organizations (service providers, recyclers, suppliers), municipalities responsible for waste service delivery, and industrial/mining operators requiring regulatory compliance and hazardous waste guidance. Membership spans South Africa (via Central, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape branches), Botswana (Gaborone Chapter), and Eswatini (Mbabane Chapter), with national member status in the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) since 2018.

The product portfolio is built around professional development, community, and advocacy rather than software. Core offerings include: (i) a three-tier membership programme (Individual, Organization, Patron) renewed annually; (ii) IWMSA Recognised and Accredited Training Courses covering waste management, hazardous waste, and waste legislation, with CPD points awarded through SAICE, SACNASP, and EAPASA; (iii) the biennial international WasteCon congress held since 1980; (iv) specialist Interest Groups including the Landfill and Waste Treatment Interest Group (LaWTIG, formed 1996) and the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Interest Group (WMRIG); (v) the quarterly RéSource journal; (vi) the IWMSA Awards programme (President's Awards, Conscientious Spirit Awards, KZN Waste Management Awards); (vii) the Find a Service Provider/Recycler Directory; and (viii) the RéSource resource library. Technology surface is intentionally limited — comprising a MyMembership portal for self-serve membership management, an Event App for conferences, online training modules introduced in 2015, and virtual training courses launched in September 2020.

IWMSA generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions, training and event fees (with member discounts), publication advertising, and patron-tier sponsorships providing first-rights to event sponsorship and complimentary WasteCon exhibition stands. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and renewals occur in July. The organization holds ECSA Recognised Voluntary Association status (2019) and signed an MOU with the National Department of Environmental Affairs (2019), entrenching its regulatory standing in the South African waste sector.

Name

IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa

Legal name

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa

Website

https://iwmsa.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is a multi-disciplinary non-profit professional association founded in 1976, serving waste management professionals, municipalities, service providers, and industrial operators across Southern Africa with membership, accredited training, the biennial WasteCon congress, and industry advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Waste Collection (5621), Solid Waste Collection (562111), All Other Waste Management Services (56299)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Institutional MSW Collection (BPALAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Collection Events & Programs (EUAIAAAM), Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Compliance (RCRA, Universal Waste, Waste Characterization/Manifests) (EUAHABAC), Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill Disposal (BPALACAA), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Program Operations (BPALAFAL)

Keywords

• Waste management association
• Professional membership
• Accredited training courses
• Industry conferences
• Environmental standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg (Central Branch)

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual and organizational members. Individual members receive access to conferences, training, publications, and networking. Organization members receive additional benefits including logo usage rights and multiple delegate spots at events.
2. Training and Events: IWMSA offers accredited and recognized training courses on waste management, hazardous waste, legislation, and related topics. Special rates are provided to members. Events include conferences, seminars, workshops, and the biennial WasteCon international congress.
3. Publication Subscriptions: Free quarterly subscription to the official journal RéSource for members. Preferential advertising rates available in IWMSA publications.
4. Patron Membership Sponsorship: Premium patron members receive first opportunity to sponsor meetings, seminars, and IWMSA functions. Includes complimentary exhibition stands at WasteCon and prominent marketing placement in all IWMSA publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IWMSA is a non-profit professional association that delivers waste management membership services, accredited training courses, the biennial WasteCon international congress, specialist interest groups, awards programmes, and the Find a Service Provider/Recycler Directory. It also publishes the quarterly RéSource journal and provides access to ISWA Working Groups for its members across Southern Africa.

Product overview

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is a multi-disciplinary non-profit professional association, not a software company. Its core offerings centre on professional development, networking, and industry standards. The IWMSA provides a membership programme with Individual, Organisation, and Patron tiers; IWMSA Recognised Training Courses (Waste Management, Hazardous Waste Management, Waste Legislation) with CPD accreditation; the biennial WasteCon international conference; specialist Interest Groups (Landfill and Waste Treatment, Waste Minimisation and Recycling); the KZN Waste Management Awards programme; a Service Provider/Recycler Directory; the quarterly RéSource Journal; and access to ISWA Working Groups. These offerings work together to advance professional waste management practices across Southern Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IWMSA Membership Programme Multi-tiered membership programme including Individual, Organisation, and Patron categories offering networking, training discounts, conference access, RéSource journal subscription, and professional development benefits for waste management professionals across Southern Africa.
• IWMSA Recognised Training Courses Professional training programmes in waste management, hazardous waste management, waste legislation, and introduction to waste management. Training qualifies for SACNASP and EAPASA CPD points and is accredited by ECSA and SAICE.
• WasteCon Biennial Conference International congress and exhibition on waste management held every two years, featuring technical sessions, networking, and industry exhibitions. Next edition: WasteCon 2026 at Emperors Palace.
• Interest Groups Specialist interest groups including Landfill and Waste Treatment Interest Group (LaWTIG) and Waste Minimisation and Recycling Interest Group (WMRIG) providing forums for professional exchange and focused knowledge sharing.
• Find a Service Provider/Recycler Directory Online directory enabling users to find waste service providers, recyclers, and recycling locations across Southern Africa. Free listing for IWMSA members.
• IWMSA Awards Programme Awards programme including Presidents Awards, Conscientious Spirit Awards, and KZN Waste Management Awards recognizing excellence in waste management practices across categories including Small Manufacturing, Large Manufacturing, Service Industry, Cleaner Production, Innovation, EPR, Best New Entrant, Individual Award, and Team Awards.
• RéSource Journal Official quarterly journal of the IWMSA providing industry insights, research, and waste management best practices to members.
• ISWA Working Groups Participation Access to 10 ISWA working groups covering Biological Treatment, Climate Change, Collection Technology, Energy Recovery, Hazardous Waste, Healthcare Waste, Landfill, and Recycling topics. IWMSA can nominate up to 20 individuals to receive full ISWA membership.
• Resource Library Comprehensive repository of waste management resources covering legislation, licensing, hazardous waste, recycling, food waste, training, and research statistics, available through the IWMSA website.
• Accredited Training NQF Level 1-3 Accredited training programme at NQF Level 1-3 for waste management practitioners, providing formal qualifications in waste management.
• IWMSA Virtual Training Course Online/virtual delivery of IWMSA training courses, enabling remote participation in waste management professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• SACNASP and SAICE CPD points available for conferences and training courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018IWMSA is the National Member of ISWA, the international body for waste management professionals. As national members, IWMSA can nominate up to 20 individuals to ISWA, each receiving full ISWA membership and eligibility for ISWA Working Groups. IWMSA hosted the ISWA 2024 World Congress in Cape Town.
• Water Institute of South Africa (WISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in the environmental sector. WISA and IWMSA share similar professional association structures for different environmental focus areas.
• Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECSA is the statutory body for engineering professionals. IWMSA is an ECSA Recognised Voluntary Association (2019), enabling CPD point provision for IWMSA training and events.
• Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAPASA is the professional body for environmental assessment practitioners. IWMSA training qualifies for EAPASA CPD points.
• Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in the municipal engineering sector with shared interest in infrastructure and environmental management.
• South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body for occupational safety and health. IWMSA collaborates on topics related to health care waste and workplace safety in waste management.
• South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAICE CPD Service Provider status enables IWMSA to offer CPD points to SAICE members attending IWMSA training and events.
• allwastesolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2016 to provide comprehensive waste management service directory for members and public seeking waste service providers.
• National Department of Environmental AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed in 2019 with the Department of Environmental Affairs to formalize collaboration on waste management policy and practice development.
• allwastesolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaste industry directory partner providing service provider listings for IWMSA members and stakeholders.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM): UK-based professional body for the waste management industry, providing membership, training, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to IWMSA as a long-established national-level waste management professional association, offering the most direct cross-Atlantic comparison.
• Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA): North American professional association for solid waste management professionals, offering certifications, training, and advocacy. Closest Anglophone parallel to IWMSA in role, scope, and member services.
• WasteMINZ (Waste Management Institute of New Zealand): New Zealand's national waste management industry body providing membership, training, advocacy, and sector events. Highly comparable professional association structure serving a single-country market.

Broad incumbents

• International Solid Waste Association (ISWA): Global umbrella body for waste management professionals of which IWMSA is a National Member. Comparable at the international federation level; ISWA is a broader incumbent that operates at global scope rather than regional.

Regional players

• Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA): South African professional body for the water sector with a similar membership, training, and advocacy model. Already a documented IWMSA partner; relevant comparable for assessing the viability of the Southern African professional association model.
• South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH): South African professional body for occupational safety and health. Comparable membership-based professional association with which IWMSA collaborates on healthcare waste and workplace safety topics.
• Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA): South African statutory professional body for environmental assessment practitioners. Operates a similar membership + CPD model in an adjacent environmental discipline and is a documented IWMSA partner.
• Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA): Southern African professional body for municipal engineering. Comparable regional professional association with shared interest in waste infrastructure; a documented IWMSA collaboration partner.

Emerging players

• South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE): Statutory South African professional body for civil engineers that provides CPD accreditation and training. Comparable as a CPD-accredited professional association and is a documented IWMSA collaboration partner.
• Waste Management Review (Australia): Australian industry publication and event organiser serving the waste management sector. Overlaps with IWMSA's RéSource journal and WasteCon event portfolio as a sector media/connector, though focused on a single market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IWMSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/iwmsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iwmsa

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa