Abstract
There are several problems arising because of South Africa's fast-growing population. When a nation's population grows, waste production eventually increases, straining the often already overburdened services. Creating a sustainable circular economy requires the collaboration of different players to reduce waste and add value to garbage. The basic tenet of a circular economy is that waste is an outward manifestation of overconsumption. When properly handled, it helps citizens stretch their household budgets, makes enterprises profitable, and lowers the cost of waste management for governments. A circular economy can be established by collaborating with several organizations to accomplish a common objective. These collaborations not only change a sector but also pave the way for a sustainable future. The study investigated the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in creating a sustainable and circular economy within the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE). It determined the opportunities for PPPs by investigating the social challenges faced by communities in this metropole, assessing financial sustainability in private organizations, and analyzing the role of PPPs in the environmental sustainability of the circular economy within the CoE. A qualitative research approach was applied including semi-structured interviews that had 13 questions aiming to analyze the role of PPPs in creating a social, financial, and environmentally sustainable circular economy. Six (6) participants in total from private firms, recycling organizations, and the CoE participated in the study. The findings demonstrate the ongoing social issues that communities face, which harm their ability to support their organizations financially and the state of the environment in which they live. The study's findings also show the importance of PPPs in managing the waste problem in communities. Private organizations should not only collaborate with other stakeholders, such as organizations based in an industry, to form partnerships with local governments, but they should also establish objectives that are in line with legislative targets. Additionally, private businesses cannot rely on the public sector. Local governments must come up with ways to build the infrastructure that is required in communities.
Keywords: circular economy, plastics, public-private partnerships, recycling, sustainability, waste.