CHRIS WHYTE: Founder of USE-IT; MD of Chris Whyte & Associates and Sustainable Tech; Founder of Circular Biosphere LLC and Director of Sey Circular Biosphere; Business Development Advisor of the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN); Co-Founder/Director of the Africa Circular.  My YouTube videos and presentations.

Since 1992, Chris has been involved in environmental and sustainable project developments across Africa and channelled his focus into waste from 1999.  He founded and headed USE-IT the Waste Materials Recovery Industry Development Programme in Durban, South Africa from 2009 to 2020 facilitating more than 2600 jobs in the waste and recycling sector in that time, leveraging 4.5 times their funding in landfill savings to municipality and an additional 10 times that funding in commercial project development. This created a model for green economic development and innovation in South Africa that worked. Chris deals in every aspect of the waste stream to explore, invent and create sustainable opportunities in waste beneficiation that touch on waste management, water management, infrastructure, energy, social upliftment, environmental benefit, economic development, low-carbon development, enterprise development and skills development – all key aspects of sustainability and drivers of the Circular Economy.   

In 2016, Chris directed his efforts to building the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) to ensure that lessons learnt in transitioning to a sustainable circular future could be taken across the continent with strategic links globally.  With a great group of professional and passionate members, ACEN is now the go-to organisation for circularity in Africa with 42 member countries and many North-South and South-South agreements on collaboration. To bring additional capacity to this structure and the continent, Chris co-founded the ACEN Foundation in 2021 now known as Africa Circular.  Chris also drives several commercial companies in project development and his passion and vision are to transition corporates and countries to a Circular Economy where waste is a resource.

Chris is recognised locally, nationally and internationally through some 20 awards:

• 2013 Chairman’s Award from Institute of Waste Management SA (IWMSA) for Exceptional Service to the Waste Management Industry
• 2014 Innovation Trophy for Innovation in Waste from the IWMSA
• 2014 Structural Home Category Award winner for Better Living Challenge
• 2015 PETCO Award for Best Waste Management Initiative of the Year
• 2015 Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Award for Green Technology Innovations
• 2015 Mail & Guardian Editor’s Choice Award as best overall environmental project in South Africa
• 2015/2016 Gold Award – winner of EcoLogic Award for Recycling and Waste Management
• 2016 semi-finalist in Global Greentech Innovation Programme
• 2016 semi-finalist in World Habitat Awards 
• 2016 SXSW Eco Award Winners for Social Impact (Tycycler project) in Austin. Texas
• 2016 KZN Waste Management Awards – Individual Merit Certificate
• 2017 finalist in the World Economic Forum The Circulars 2017, an initiative of The Forum of Young Global Leaders in the ‘AB InBev Award for Circular Economy Governments, Cities and Regions’ category. The Circulars 2017 Finalists
• 2017 Finalist: Chris was one of 7 finalists in the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Sustainability and Resource Awards 2017 for ‘Waste and Resources Leader of the Year’
• 2018 Ecologic Awards – Bronze in Recycling and Waste Management, Silver in Eco-Warrior Award
• 2018 Winner: AfriSam – SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation for Sustainable Product/Technology: RamBrick
• 2019 World Sustainability Award – The Energy Globe. National prize for low-carbon construction from waste materials
• 2019 Build Magazine. Recycling & Waste Management Awards: Best Waste Beneficiation Technology Developer, 2019
• 2020: HSBC Future Skills Innovation Challenge in partnership with Ashoka, a global network for social entrepreneurs.
• 2023: Ecologic Awards – Gold Award for Circular Economy (for ACEN)
• 2024: Caroline Reid Eco Warrior Award: in appreciation of his commitment and dedication to help restore our rivers and protect waterways and natural environment.