Cape Town’s Pee-Cycling wins V&A Waterfront Circular Innovation Challenge

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The challenge, a flagship initiative of Solve, the V&A Waterfront’s NPC, seeks to identify and support circular economy solutions that can drive environmental, social, and economic impact.

The 2026 challenge attracted a diverse group of innovators tackling some of the country’s most pressing sustainability challenges through scalable, commercially viable solutions.

Entries underwent a comprehensive, multi-stage evaluation based on criteria including innovation, circular economy impact, feasibility, scalability, commercial potential, environmental benefit, and social impact.

An independent circular economy panel reviewed the submissions and shortlisted the most promising solutions.

After several rounds of judging, the panel invited the top four to present their concepts at the final pitch event.

Cape Town Stadium urine-recycling innovator selected for 2026 Africa Prize

29 Sep 2026

Circular criteria

In the end, the judging panel selected Pee-Cycling as the overall winner. The panel felt it addressed multiple environmental challenges while demonstrating strong commercial viability and scalability.

Born from research at the University of Cape Town, Pee-Cycling developed a process that separates urine from conventional wastewater streams and turns it into reusable water and liquid fertiliser.

The technology recovers valuable nutrients before traditional sanitation systems lose them, helping reduce water pollution while creating a valuable agricultural product.

The company has already demonstrated its technology at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town through a build-own-operate partnership, and its pilot operations have processed more than 10,000 litres of urine.

Delivered with Bidvest Prestige and the City of Cape Town, the project collected 3,600 litres of urine during the South Africa vs New Zealand rugby game alone.

The City of Cape Town has also included it in its three-year stadium tender.