COMPacity
Capacity Building and Business Model Development for GHG-reducing Composting Processes in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.
07/2026 - 06/2029
Project
The COMPacity project is establishing greenhouse gas-reducing composting processes in the Buffalo City metropolitan region to recycle organic waste and produce high-quality substrate products.
In addition, economic business models, practical training programs, and transferable guidelines are being developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen an economically viable circular economy in the Eastern Cape.
Project objectives
1. Processing of 1,500 metric tons per year of green waste.
2. CO₂e savings of 460 metric tons of CO₂e per year.
3. Improved climate resilience across an area of 75 hectares.
4. Qualification of 40 instructors.
5. Training of 650 students in specialized fields.
6. Development of a best-practice and knowledge transfer guide.
Project region
The COMPacity project is being implemented in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province through a demonstration project in KuGompo City (formerly East London) within the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM), which is facing overcrowded landfills and limited capacity for organic waste recycling and aims to tap into the potential of an economically viable circular economy through innovative composting processes.
Project course
By establishing a demonstration facility as a flagship project, a low-emission composting process will be implemented at the KuGompo City project site, optimized through sensor-based monitoring, and disseminated throughout the region through the development of business models, training initiatives, and mentoring programs.
Project partners
The project is being implemented by the project partners TERRA URBANA Umlandentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH and LAV Erdenwerke GmbH.
TERRA URBANA
TERRA URBANA Umlandentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH is a planning and regional development firm that has been active nationally and internationally since 1993, focusing on the development and implementation of sustainable circular technologies, particularly in the areas of resource and water management, hydroponics and aquaponics, and composting.
In addition, the company possesses extensive expertise in knowledge transfer and capacity building through practice-oriented education and training programs.
LAV Erdenwerke
LAV Erdenwerke GmbH (LAV) specializes in the recycling of organic waste and the production of high-quality soils and substrates for gardening, landscaping, and sports field construction. Since 1996, the company has operated two soil processing plants and several composting facilities in the Halle-Leipzig area.
Using modern technologies and established methods for monitoring material flows, production processes, and product quality, LAV continuously optimizes compost pile management and substrate production while reducing its environmental impact.
